21,000 tonnes of wheat arrive in grain markets
Wheat has started arriving in the grain markets in 11 out of the 22 districts in the state.
According to the Punjab State Agriculture Marketing Board, 9,944 tonne wheat has arrived at the grain markets in Patiala district so far, followed by Sangrur (4,182 tonne), Mansa (3,025 tonne), SAS Nagar (2,454 tonne), Bathinda (482 tonne), Fatehgarh Sahib (341 tonne), Ludhiana (318 tonne), Fazilka (142 tonne), Barnala (125 tonne), Faridkot (30 tonne) and Ropar (13 tonne).
In all, 21,063 tonne food grains have arrived in 11 districts of the state, out of which 3,220 tonne has been procured by the government agencies, while 1,176 tonne has been purchased by private traders. The remaining crop is yet to be procured. Officials of the state procurement agencies said the quality of grains was “slightly dull” with high humidity content of above 18 per cent.
Though the purchase of food grains started on April 1, the arrival has been slow due to delayed harvesting.
The Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Department has asked the farmers to bring completely dried grain to the mandis so that time is not wasted and they get full price for the produce.
Meanwhile, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Principal Secretary of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, has written a letter to the Union Government seeking relaxations in the wheat procurement norms.
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