In view of the approaching harvesting season and prevailing COVID-19 scenario, Director Agriculture, Jammu, Inder Jeet, today convened a meeting at Krishi Bhawan to review arrangements for procurement of wheat produce of Rabi 2019-20.The modalities in this regard were finalized during deliberations wherein attention of participating officers was drawn towards smooth and timely procurement of wheat by the Food Corporation of India directly from producers through DBT. The arrangements regarding space/gunny bags, logistic support and other necessary facilities for organizing procurement mandies by the Food Corporation of India in coordination with the Agriculture and J&K Horticulture Planning and marketing Departments, were discussed threadbare in the meeting.Director Agriculture on the occasion asked the officers of Agriculture, Horticulture (P&M) and FCI departments to select and finalize the location of procurement centres as per feasibility and catchment area. He said that the purpose of opening these procurement centres is to save the farmers from distress sale of their produce in these difficult times and ensure that they get minimum support price as notified by Ministry for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. He impressed upon the participants to give wide publicity among the farmers regarding this procurement facility.
It was also enjoined upon all to adhere to COVID- 19 advisory like sanitization of mandis, machinery, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing while operating procurement mandis. It was also agreed upon that FCI will also share that details of Mandi Level Contractors (MLC) with all concerned after finalization.Director Horticulture (P&M) J&K, Imam Din, assured that their departmental infrastructure in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts can be utilized to set up the procurement centres which will protect the farmers produce from bad weather conditions.It was informed in the meeting that 23 Wheat Procurement Centers (Mandis) for Jammu district, 8 for Kathua and 2 Wheat Procurement Centers for Samba have been proposed to setup this year for wheat procurement. Chief Agriculture officers of Jammu, samba and Kathua districts were directed to provide all logistic support to FCI in the smooth operation of these centres.Joint Director Agriculture (Inputs) Jammu, Anil Kumar Nargotra, Deputy Director (Central) Jammu, K. K. Sharma, Manager FCI, Jammu, Mukesh Verma, Marketing Inspector, Horticulture (P&M) Jammu, Vishal Gupta attended the meeting.