Food Department poised for wheat procurement drive

Comprehensive plans in place to ensure smooth campaign.

FAISALABAD:

As many as four million tons of wheat will be purchased throughout Punjab by the provincial Food Department during the wheat procurement campaign 2013-14, out of which a target of 0.495 million tons has been set for the four districts of Faisalabad division.

This was revealed during a meeting held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner Dr Ajaz Munir.

While giving a briefing on the salient features the wheat procurement policy, Food Director Captain Usman Younis said all arrangements will be in place at wheat procurement centers on April 10, the issuance of ‘burdanna’ (wheat sacks) will begin from April 15, while wheat will be purchased from April 20 at the rate of Rs1,200 per 40 kilogrammes (kg).

He said that a under grower-friendly policy, delivery charges at the rate of Rs7.50 per 100 kg will be paid in addition to the wheat price to farmers through purchase bills. He explained that quality wheat would be purchased, with a maximum moisture content of 10%, and middlemen will not be allowed to sell to the Food Department.

The food director said a three-tier committee will be notified by the respective DCO for district, tehsil and central level, which will monitor and coordinate the arrangements and redress any issues.

Wheat sacks will be distributed up to May 30, and will be received filled with wheat till June 7. “Every grain will be purchased from growers until the target is achieved,” he said. Younis said the timings for purchase centres had been fixed from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, and they would operate without any holiday. Complaint cells will be set up at each purchase centre, besides a designated toll-free helpline at the provincial level.

While reviewing arrangements for the wheat procurement drive, Munir said growers should be facilitated and urged fair and transparent distribution of wheat sacks and presence of revenue staff for the help of farmers.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2013.

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