LUDHIANA: Ludhiana West MLA and Food and Civil Supplies Minister
Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Sunday directed all the heads of the state
procurement agencies as well as the General Manager of
Food Corporation of India (FCI) Punjab region to personally supervise the paddy procurement operations across the state beginning from October 1st so as to ensure prompt lifting of paddy as per their allotted share of procurement.
Speaking on the issue Ashu said, “Punjab is expecting paddy procurement to the tune of 200 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) this year. Of the total paddy PUNGRAIN would procure 30 percent, PUNSUP 22 percent Markfed 23 percent,
Punjab Agro 10 percent,
Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 10 percent and FCI 5 percent in all the 1834 purchase centres set up across the State. All out efforts should be made to ensure smooth, hassle free and quick procurement of paddy on one hand and facilitate the farmers in getting timely payment of their produce on the other. Farmers of the state should not be put to any inconvenience for the sale of their produce in the mandis”
Ashu directed that good quality sturdy gunny bales to be ensured while packing the produce and also that should be no shortage of bales for storage of grains. He asked the officers concerned to personally visit the mandis during the procurement and ensure smooth lifting. He said the field staff should work round the clock to procure the stocks even on Saturdays, Sundays and also on government holidays. The minister asked the Punjab Mandi Board officials to make sure of proper arrangements in mandis to save produce and to have proper sanitation facilities. He also appealed to all the farmers to bring dry, clean and fully matured paddy to the mandis and warned all the stakeholders to refrain from malpractice whether arhtias, transporters or shellers.
