Wheat procurement drive to begin from April 1

Authorities set wheat target at 3.5-5 million metric tonnes

LAHORE:

The wheat procurement drive across Punjab will be launched from April 1, for which the process of distribution of “bardana” (gunny bags) to the farmers without any discrimination has also been started.

The authorities have set a target of wheat procurement drive to 3.5 to 5 million metric tonnes. Moreover, the Punjab Food Department has also completed its preparations at wheat procurement centres in the province.

Punjab Senior and Food Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said all necessary steps including Corona SOPs would be ensured at the wheat procurement centres and maximum facilities would be provided to the farmers. He added that the “no queue no wait” policy will be adopted for the supply of gunny bags to the cultivators at these procurement centres.

Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said after an increase of Rs400 in the official price of wheat, now new crop will be purchased at Rs1,800 per maund hich is indeed good news for the farmers’ community.

He further said this year again farmers have been exempted from “fard” and other land documents for the purchase of “bardana” and they will get it in abundance based on “first come first served”.

Khan said the increase in the official price of wheat by Prime Minister Imran Khan was great news for the farmers of Punjab and the Punjab government will also meet the target of wheat procurement this year. The senior minister added that he would visit the wheat procurement centres in different cities and strict action will be taken if negligence seen anywhere by the food department.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2021.