CHANDIGARH: District Ferozepur led in wheat procurement with 10.74 lac tonnes as wheat procurement in Punjab touched 94 lac tonnes.

An official spokesman said that six government agencies and private millers have procured more than 93.70lac tonnes of wheat in Punjab out of which 89.04 lac tonne (95.0%) has been procured for the central pool and 2,22,823 tonnes (2.4%)  has been procured for the State pool.

According to an official spokesman till Saturday evening out of total procurement of 93,70,396 tonnes of wheat in all the procurement centers of Punjab, millers have lifted 2,43,247 tonnes    (2.6%) of wheat.

Till May 4, PUNGRAIN had procured 16, 63,388 tonnes (18.7%) whereas MARKFED procured 21, 12,746 tonnes (23.7%). PUNSUP procured 20, 37, 565 tonnes (22.9%), PSWC procured 11, 20,706 tonnes (12.6%) Whereas  PAIC was able to procure10, 16,036 tonnes (11.4 %) of wheat for the central pool. The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 9, 53,885tonnes (10.7%) for the central pool.

The spokesman said that in addition MARKFED procured 69413 tonnes (31.2%), PUNSUP procured 76238 tonnes (34.2%) and PAIC procured 46541 tonnes(0.5%)  for the State pool.

He added that Ferozepur District with 10,74,879 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District with 9,20,642 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and  Ludhiana district with 8,13,055 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

 The Punjab Government and FCI have made a payment of more than Rs. 8916 crores to the farmers of the State for wheat procured upto May 3, 2008 ensuring payment to the farmers within 48 hours of lifting of their wheat.

The spokesman said that Punjab Government has already allocated Rs. 11116 crores for to six government agencies for ensuring 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.