The wheat procurement operations in Punjab are set to conclude on May 25, announced the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Lal Chand Kataruchak on Tuesday.
"The wheat procurement operations, which started on April 1, will end on May 25," the minister said, adding that the government agencies in state have successfully procured 121.07 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of wheat during the Rabi marketing season.
"Out of the total arrival of 125.57 lakh metric tonnes of wheat in the Rabi marketing season in Punjab, government agencies procured 121.07 lakh MT. Nearly 4.50 lakh MT was procured by private traders," he said.
The minister further said that a significant sum of Rs 24,693 crore was disbursed as the minimum support price (MSP) to more than eight lakh farmers for their wheat produce.
The wheat procurement operations started on April 1 in the state. Kataruchak said the state government operationalised 2,780 mandis in the state during the Rabi marketing season. However, 2,628 mandis have been closed so far in a phased manner, following a drastic dip in arrivals of wheat from May 10 in certain parts of the state. At present, wheat is being procured in 152 main mandi yards covering all the districts, he added.
