CHANDIGARH: Wheat procurement in Punjab touched 90 lac tonnes mark   and state contributed over 85.74 lac tonnes to the central pool till date. 

The  spokesman said that six government agencies and private millers have procured more than 89.86 lac tonnes of wheat in Punjab out of which 85.74 lac tonne (95.40%) has been procured for the central pool and 1,86,045 tonnes (2.1%)  has been procured for the State pool.

According to an official spokesman Government agencies and private millers procured more than 89.86lac tonnes of wheat till Friday evening. Out of total procurement of 89,86,330 tonnes of wheat in all the procurement centers of Punjab, millers have lifted 2,25,545 tonnes    (2.5%) of wheat. Till May 2, PUNGRAIN had procured 15, 88,557 tonnes (18.5%) whereas MARKFED procured 20, 29,801 tonnes (23.7%). PUNSUP procured 19, 53, 028 tonnes (22.8%), PSWC procured 10, 92,022 tonnes (12.7%) whereas PAIC was able to procure9, 90,347tonnes (11.5 %) of wheat for the central pool. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 9, 20,985tonnes (10.7%) for the central pool.

The spokesman said that in addition MARKFED procured 64364 tonnes (34.6%), PUNSUP procured 72,419 tonnes (38.9%) and PAIC procured 35582 tonnes(0.4%)  for the State pool.

He added that Ferozepur District with 10,29,560 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District with 9,14,392 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and  Ludhiana district with 7,98,530 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

The Punjab Government has made a payment of more than Rs. 8000 crores to the farmers of the State for wheat procured upto May1, 2008 ensuring payment to the farmers within 48 hours of lifting of their wheat. The spokesman said that Punjab Government has already set aside Rs. 11176 crores for total procurement season to ensure hassle free payment to the farmers.

The State Government has set up over 1615 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of wheat, the spokesman added.