All necessary arrangements ensured by Punjab Mandi Board for wheat procurement.

Wheat procurement in Punjab will be started form April 1

5 Dariya News

S.A.S. Nagar ( Mohali ) 29-Mar-2016

To facilitate the farmers, all necessary arrangements have been ensured by Punjab Mandi Board for wheat procurement to be started from April 1st . As such, 1823 procurement centres have been established in the state wherein wheat procurement will be done at Govt. rates i.e. Rs. 1525/- per quintal. This was intimated by Chairman Punjab Mandi Board Sr. Ajmer Singh Lakhowal to Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Sh. Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu after addressing a high level meeting to review the procurement arrangements in the state. During the meeting Vice Chairman Punjab Mandi Board Sh. Ravinder Singh Cheema, Dr. Sikandar Singh  GM Marketing, Sh. Gurvinder Pal Singh Randhawa GM (Infotech) Sh. Harpreet Singh Sidhu GM (Estates) and officials from Engineering wing Sh. Harpreet Sigh Brar, Chief Engineer (Quality Control), Chief Engineer Sh. Subhash Mahajan, Chief Engineer Sh. Ravinder Singh Gil were present. Beside this all field officers including District Mandi Officer & all Executive Engineers were present.

Secretary Mandi Baord said that sufficient sitting arrangements, power supply & drinking water facility has been ensured for the farmers. To facilitate the farmers and to smoothen the procurement process, along with available staff, some temporary staff has been deputed by market committees in cooperation with district officers. He said that to review the procurement arrangements special teams comprising of General Manager & Chief Engineers, have been formed.  He said that in view of the wheat season, control room has been established at Head Office Punjab Mandi Board at sector 65 Mohali, which will remain operational from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm and telephone numbers of this control room are 0172-5101649, 5101704. Besides this a mobile phone having number 99140-04661 will also be available in this control room. In case on any problem for wheat procurement anybody could contact at these numbers. Sh. Sidhu said that field officers have been strictly directed to remain cautious and perform dedicatedly so that cheating in case of market fee could be prevented. He also directed to plant more shaddy trees at procurement centers. He directed the field officers to distribute the Kisan Health Bima Cards to the beneficiaries. He said that last year 106.23 lacs metric ton wheat was procured. As such, this year 120 lacs metric ton wheat is expected to reach in the market. He appealed the farmers to not to bring the wheat which is still having some moisture and also directed to not to use combines during night hours.