117 lakh tonnes wheat procured in Punjab

Chandigarh, May 23, 2014: The procurement process of Wheat in Punjab is still in full swing with various Government agencies and private millers procuring more than 11723044 tonnes of wheat till last evening against 11065888 tonnes procured on the date last year.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesman said that the procurement process is being conducted in 1757 procurement centres all over the state. He reiterated the commitment of Punjab Government to procure total wheat coming to the mandis of Punjab despite meeting the procurement target. He said that instructions have already been issued to make payment to farmers within 48 hours of lifting of their produce and Rs. 15092.29 crore has already been paid to farmers.
The spokesman of the government said that Out of total procurement of 11723044 tonnes of wheat in all the procurement centres of Punjab, Government agencies procured 11438906 tonnes of wheat till date whereas private traders procured 284138 tonnes of wheat. Till May 22, MARKFED procured 2538242 tonnes (21.7%), PUNSUP procured 2423162 tonnes (20.7%). whereas PUNGRAIN had procured 1384767 tonnes (11.8 %) PSWC procured 1319732 tonnes (11.3%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 1151704 tonnes (9.8 %) of wheat. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 1824277 tonnes (15.6%).
The spokesman added that District Sangrur with 1022038 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Ludhiana with 898233 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Bathinda with 848464 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.