Chandigarh: Wheat procurement went smoothly in Punjab amidst the challenges of Covid-19, a total of 132 lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) has been procured this year as compared to 129 lakh MT last year. As a result, farmers have earned Rs 26,000 crore this time as against Rs 24,600 crore last year. On the 34th day, 97,696 MT wheat was procured, out of which 96,475 MT was procured by government agencies and 1,221 MT was procured by private agencies.
According to information received from the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, 96,475 MT of wheat has been procured by government agencies, out of which 23,730.30 MT has been purchased by Punjab Grains Procurement Corporation Ltd., 23,984.23 MT by Markfed, and 16,320.80 MT by PUNSP. Warehousing Corporation has procured 15,326.95 MT of wheat.
The central government agency FCI has procured 13,239.1 MTs of wheat. Apart from this, Pangrain has also purchased 3,873.6 MT wheat for public distribution in Punjab. So far, a total of 13,21,61,187.78 MT wheat has been procured in the state.
Expressing happiness over the smooth completion of wheat procurement amidst the challenges of Covid-19, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh appreciated the hard-working farmers of the state for this achievement.
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He said that in comparison to 129 lakh MT procured last year, a total of 132 lakh MT has been purchased in 2021. He said that this time farmers have earned Rs 26,000 crore as compared to Rs 24,600 crore last year.
Congress MLA Raj Kumar Verka said that every single grain produced by the farmers has been purchased by the government despite apprehensions in the market owing to the fear of crop damage due to rains.
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Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader Neil Garg said such statements by the government would create a rift between farmers and jobseekers.
Shiromani Akali Dal said the farmers in the state have not benefitted from the public procurement of wheat. "The Shiromani Akali Dal said that the Central Government has done all this only to loot its accolades, farmers are not benefiting from it in any way," said Master Balwinder Singh, leader, Shiromani Akali Dal.
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