Punjab, Haryana procure 176 lakh tonnes of wheat

Chandigarh, May 13 (IANS) Food grain producing states Punjab and Haryana have procured nearly 176 lakh tonnes of wheat, officials from both states said Tuesday.

Both states have recorded a bumper crop this year.

In Punjab, government agencies and private millers have procured over 112.70 lakh tonnes of wheat till Monday. Of this, 97.6 percent has been procured by government agencies alone, a spokesman for the Punjab food and supplies department said.

Sangrur district in Punjab is leading in procurement, followed by Ludhiana and Bathinda districts.

In Haryana, nearly 63.2 lakh tonnes of wheat has arrived in various grain markets during the current procurement season, a department spokesman said. Government agencies here have procured nearly 63.1 lakh tonnes of wheat.

Sirsa, Fatehabad and Karnal districts were leading in wheat procurement.

Procurement in both states started April 1 but most of the wheat arrived after April 20.