Punjab surpasses procurement target despite untimely rains

Chandigarh, May 19, 2014: The Punjab state has successfully achieved the wheat procurement target  of 115 lakh tonnes on May 18 despite inclement weather conditions and untimely rains. 

Disclosing this here today an official spokesman said that the procurement process of Wheat in Punjab is still in full swing with various Government agencies and private millers procuring more than 11563679 tonnes of wheat till last evening against 11032964 tonnes procured on the date last year. He said that the procurement process is being conducted in 1757 procurement centres all over the state. The Spokesman 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. 14378.21 crore has already been paid to farmers.

The spokesman of the government said that Out of total procurement of 11563679 tonnes of wheat in all the procurement centres of Punjab, Government agencies procured 11285932 tonnes of wheat till date whereas private traders procured 277747 tonnes of wheat. Till May 18, MARKFED procured 2510061 tonnes (21.7%), PUNSUP procured 2385514 tonnes (20.6%). whereas PUNGRAIN had procured 1387672 tonnes (12.0 %) PSWC procured 1306070 tonnes (11.3%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 1229406 tonnes (9.8 %) of wheat. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 1807404 tonnes (15.6%).

The spokesman added that District Sangrur with 1016711 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Ludhiana with 892355 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Bathinda with 834941 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.