Assuring the farmers unnerved by unexpected, untimely downpour reported in various parts of the State,Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Punjab said that government is standing firmly by the side of farmers and none would be left to suffer at the hands of vagaries of Nature.Reiterating government’s promise of hassle-free procurement, Food & Civil Supplies Minister said that government is committed to lift the last grain in the market and all the stakeholders involved, be it the farmers, the labourers or the arthiyas, may rest assured that government will not leave them in lurch. He added that Mandi Board has been directed to take concrete steps to upgrade the arrangements in mandis and ensure safety of food grains from the rain. He said that the Managing Directors of procurement agencies have been asked to personally visit the markets in rain affected districts and hold detailed meetings with the Administration and other stakeholders to resolve issues, if any. In compliance to the directions, Mrs.Anindita Mitra, Director Food & Civil Supplies Punjab visited Hoshiarpur, Mr. Rahul Tewari, MD Markfed visited Tarn Taarn, Mr. Amarpal Singh, MD PUNSAP visited Faridkot and Muktsar , Mr. Vikas Garg, MD Punjab Agro visited Jalandhar and Mr. HS Brar, AMD Warehousing has visited Gurdaspur.In the meanwhile, updating the status of procurement till date he said that by 2nd May wheat grains to the tune of 118LMT have been procured as against 112LMT last year on the same date. Besides, 83 LMT wheat grains have already been lifted as well.