Punjab Food secretary, Raja Shahid Hussain claimed that 3.5 million tons wheat procurement target for 2003-04 would easily be achieved due to bumper crop and incentives to the farmers despite free market.
"The government was offering Rs 350 per 40 kilogram to the growers", Hussain said believing that the private sector buyers would not be able to create dent in the government's wheat procurement drive by offering a little more money than that of the government.
The secretary warned that the growers, while selling their wheat at a commission agent shop, would have to pay 2.5 per cent or more in commission besides paying "Chungi" and giving around one-kg per bag extra grain in "Thalla."
This, he said, would neutralise the extra earnings, if any, of the growers due to the price difference. The direct supply to the millers had its own "adverse consequences," he further cautioned.
Talking to newsman, he said the food department had arranged sufficient quantity of bags this year, revealing that 100-Kg gunny bags would be supplied for packing of 2.7 million tons wheat, while 50-Kg polythene bags would be provided for remaining 0.8 million tons of the wheat.
Hussain said that the farmer, who would bring 100 bags of the wheat to a government centre, would get cash payment on-the-spot, while the grower would bring grain beyond the said quantity, would get the payment through cheque.
The government, the food secretary said, had set up a total number of 305 wheat procurement centres in the 34 districts of the province. In high-wheat-producing areas like Bahawalpur and Multan divisions, the centres had been set up even in the vicinity of 10 kilometres, he added.
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