118 lakh tonnes wheat procured in Punjab

Chandigarh, May 28, 2014: The procurement process of Wheat in Punjab is still in full swing with various Government agencies and private millers procuring more than 11840826 tonnes of wheat till last evening against 11083510 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. 15651.19 crore has already been paid to farmers.
The spokesman of the government said that Out of total procurement of 11840826 tonnes of wheat in all the procurement centres of Punjab, Government agencies procured 11551358 tonnes of wheat till date whereas private traders procured 289468 tonnes of wheat. Till May 27, MARKFED procured 2559501 tonnes (21.6%), PUNSUP procured 2440971 tonnes (20.6%). whereas PUNGRAIN had procured 1403461 tonnes (11.9 %) PSWC procured 1328539 tonnes (11.2%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 1167613 tonnes (9.9 %) of wheat. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 1831362 tonnes (15.5%).
The spokesman added that District Sangrur with 1024329 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Ludhiana with 905463 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Bathinda with 858454 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.