Procurement drive: Rs130 billion to be spent on 4 million tonne wheat

Food minister says transparent distribution of gunny bags would be ensured.

FAISALABAD:

“Rs130 billion be spent on purchase of 4 million tonnes wheat from farmers across the province,” said Food Minister Bilal Yasin on Monday.

He was addressing a meeting with representatives of farmers’ associations from Faisalabad. Food Secretary Parvaiz Ahmad Khan, Food Director Asif Bilal Lodhi, Commissioner Nasim Nawaz, DCOs Noorul Amin Mengal and Food Deputy Director Shafiullah Khan were also present.



Explaining the Punjab Wheat Procurement Policy, the minister said transparent distribution of gunny bags among farmers would be ensured. He said district governments would ensure comfortable seating and availability of drinking water at procurement centres.

He said revenue officials would be deployed in sufficient numbers at wheat procurement centres so that farmers did not face any delays. He said officials at procurement centres would ensure there were no delays.

He said district and tehsil coordination committees had been activated to monitor the wheat procurement process. He said a control room had been set up in this regard.



The food minister said interests of small farmers would be protected.

He said the chief minister had assigned duties to ministers, secretaries and high ranking officers to monitor the procurement campaign. He said farmers could contact the helpline 0800 60606 if they had any complaints or concerns.

The food secretary said arrangements for distribution of gunny bags had been finalised across the province.

He said farmers would get payments from the nearest branch of any bank. He said farmers would be paid support price Rs1,300 per 40 kg wheat along with Rs7.50 per bag as delivery charges.

The food director said wheat with moisture upto 10 per cent would be purchased. He said small grain would not be refused.

The commissioner said transparency in the wheat procurement campaign would be ensured. He said officials found guilty of negligence would face disciplinary action. He said corruption in distribution of gunny bags would not be tolerated. He said security arrangements around procurement centres had also been made. He said the district administration would facilitate farmers throughout the drive. “Farmers are urged to tell us about their issues and their concerns,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2015.