Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to lift every single grain of the farmers from the market during the ongoing procurement season, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today directed the officers of the state government to make all out efforts to for ensuring smooth, timely and hassle free lifting of grains. Presiding over a high level meeting to review the ongoing procurement in the state here at his office this morning, the Chief Minister had detailed interactions with the officers on the issues pertaining to procurement, moisture content, damage and payment of the wheat crop. He asked the officers of the state government particularly the Managing Directors of the state Procurement agencies to personally visit the grain markets for ensuring that farmers do not face any sort of problem in selling their harvest. “This will facilitate the farmers in selling their harvest without any sort of undue harassment” added Mr. Badal. It was apprised in the meeting that in order to ensure smooth, prompt and hassle free procurement of wheat the state Food and Civil Supplies Department had already issued the Wheat Procurement Policy for this current marketing season. Necessary arrangements for required storage space and stock article had already been completed and a network of purchase centres has been notified by the Punjab Mandi Board and allotment of Mandis to six procurement agencies have been made as per their allotted share by the state government. The officers also apprised the Chief Minister that bearing some pockets the work of procurement was going on smoothly.
The Chief Minister further asked the officers to make the payment of the crops to the farmers immediately, without any delay. He also said that every farmer must be paid the fixed value of his crop in the stipulated time period, without any sort of undue harassment. Mr. Badal further said that the senior officers should make personal interventions for ensuring that the procurement of the wheat was done in a smooth and effective manner. The Chief Minister also said that besides procurement of the grains emphasis must also be laid on the proper transportation and storage of the grains. He also asked the Food and Civil Supply Department to explore the feasibility of setting up new Warehouses in the state.
On the occasion, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon apprised the Chief Minister about the ongoing procurement of the wheat.Prominent amongst other who were present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Food & Civil Supplies Mr. G. Vajralingam Secretary Agriculture Mr. KS Pannu, MS Markfed Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary Mandi Board Mr. Deepinder Singh and General Manager FCI (Punjab Region) Mr. Kumar Rahul.