Minister hints at increase in wheat procurement target

Federal Minister for Industries, Production and National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said that the target of wheat purchase may be further increased to ensure fair price to growers.

During his visit to Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation Limited, the minister said Passco had been directed to adopt a comprehensive strategy to purchase maximum wheat from the growers in a free, fair and transparent manner.

In this connection, PASSCO has so far received 88,000 applications out of which 1,500 applications were verified and the company started the procurement process, he added.

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He said that PASSCO had established its procurement centres in 13 tehsils across Punjab where necessary facilities were provided for wheat growers and their apprehensions would be removed. He said that Pakistan had witnessed a bumper wheat crop this year despite harsh weather and climate change. “We are hopeful that the current crop would not only cater to the domestic food requirements easily but we may also export its surplus,” he added.

He said that the government had also decided to provide fertilizer at cheaper rates so that farmers could meet crop expenditures easily.

PASSCO Managing Director Emad Nazir Ahmad briefed the minister about wheat procurement and said that PASSCO was issuing bardana (gunny bags) after registering growers from 9am to 5pm daily. He said that bardana of eight bags was issued for one acre and one farmer could obtain maximum 100 bags.

Bardana is being issued on a “first come, first served” basis after verification of registration and revenue record. He said that growers could get Bardana after depositing Rs530 per bag as security through pay order, demand draft and call deposit while the center would charge Rs40 from growers as delivery charges per bag of 100kg weight.