Procurement drive: Wheat purchase plan finalised

Talking to newsmen at Circuit House, Yasin said distribution of gunny bags would start on April 25. He said in the first five days gunny bags would be provided only to small farmers owning less than 12.5 acres.

The minister said additional district collectors had been nominated as focal persons during the procurement drive. “Data of 3 million growers is available with the Food Department,” he said. “Telephone numbers of all officials concerned have been displayed at wheat procurement centres. If farmers face any problem, they are urged to call those numbers and voice their concerns.”

The minister said wheat procurement policy had been formed after consultations with farmers’ organisations. “They have termed it a farmer-friendly policy,” he said. He said the government would purchase 4 million metric tonnes of wheat. “Rs130 billion has been earmarked for this purpose. There is no ban on transportation of wheat to other districts. A uniform price has been fixed across the country,” he said.