Lucknow, Apr 12 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh government has procured one lakh MT of wheat from 17,440 farmers at 6,000 purchase centres across the state till date in record time, officials here on Monday said.
Despite the fresh Covid scare, foolproof arrangements have been ensured at the wheat purchase centres since procurement commenced from April 1.
Not only the Covid protocol, but the CM has instructed to create all the facilities for the farmers.
With an aim to double the income of the farmers, the state government has introduced new devices and technology so that the farmers may receive the best price of their produce.
In this regard, for the first time in the country, the state government has introduced the electronic point of purchase (e-Pop) machines making the concept of middlemen obsolete, while ensuring transparency in the purchase of wheat.
Uttar Pradesh is the first state in the country to initiate procurement by providing biometric authentication through e-pop devices in wheat purchase with the aim of benefiting real farmers and eliminating the role of middlemen and unauthorized persons under the price support scheme.
The first procurement of wheat through e-Pop machine was successfully carried out at Kundarki purchase center of Moradabad district on April 7. The procurement of wheat through e-pop machines will start at various other purchase centres in the state soon.
In Rabi marketing year 2021-22, procurement of wheat directly from farmers under the Minimum Support Price Scheme commenced on April 1, 2021. The government has increased the MSP of wheat from Rs 1,925 in 2020-21 to Rs 1,975 in 2021-22. Besides, the number of procurement centers has increased from 5000 last year to 6,000 this time.
There is a need to mention that for the first time in the country, the Yogi-led government has decided to involve Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) in the procurement of wheat. As many as 150 FPOs have been roped in in the state to start with.
It is to be noted that during the past four-years , the state government had made a record payment of Rs 29017.45 crore to more than 33 lakh wheat farmers.
The Yogi government has made a record of highest ever payment to the paddy and wheat farmers of the state in four years. Even in terms of payment to wheat farmers, the Yogi government has left the previous governments far behind.
UNI MB SV 1504