Procurement starts today
Monday, 01/10/2018
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/procurement-starts-today/661323.html
Chandigarh : Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu has directed the heads of the state procurements agencies as well as the General Manager, FCI, Punjab region, to personally supervise the paddy procurement operations across the state beginning from Monday so as to ensure prompt lifting of paddy as per their allotted share of procurement.
Punjab is expecting paddy procurement to the tune of 200 lakh metric tonnes this year. Of the total paddy, Pungrain will procure 30 per cent, Punsup 22 per cent, Markfed 23 per cent, Punjab Agro 10 per cent, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 10 per cent and FCI 5 per cent in all the 1,834 purchase centres set up across the state.
Reviewing the arrangements of the paddy procurement for the kharif marketing season 2018-19 in the state, Ashu said all-out efforts should be made to ensure smooth, hassle-free and quick procurement of paddy on the one hand and facilitate the farmers in getting timely payment of their produce on the other. He categorically said farmers of the state should not be put to any inconvenience for the sale of their produce in the mandis.
He directed the officials that good quality sturdy gunny bales must be used while packing the produce and there should be no shortage of bales for storage of grains. He asked the officials concerned to personally visit the mandis during the procurement and ensure smooth lifting.
He said the field staff should work round the clock to procure the stocks even on Saturdays, Sundays and also on government holidays. The minister asked the Punjab Mandi Board officials to ensure proper arrangements in mandis. The Centre has fixed MSP for paddy at Rs 1,770 per quintal for grade A and Rs 1,750 per quintal for the common variety of paddy.
Electronic weighingof grain compulsory
Patiala: The government will be procuring paddy through electronic weighing machines from this kharif season. The farmers had been complaining that the exact weight was not recorded by manual machines. The decision was taken by the Punjab Mandi Board and a circular to compulsorily introduce the electronic weighing system in market yards has been issued to all district mandi officers.
