Food Department Multan has procured 3.224 million bags (322,432 tons) of wheat, achieving 33 percent target so far, at its 75 centres, set up in six districts of the former Multan division. Food Department sources told APP on Saturday the procurement has somewhat slowed down because in the open market rates range up to Rs 405 per 40 kg as against fixed price of Rs 400. Moreover, sources added, wheat merchants buy the commodity off the fields.
Last year by May 7, about half a million tons wheat had been procured by the Food Department Multan, sources said, observing that due to late wheat harvesting this year on account of the belated rains, the grain arrival at procurement centres is likely to pick up in the coming days and weeks.
Food department Multan will procure 9.6 lacs (0.96 million) ton wheat in six districts of the former Multan division this year, said deputy director Manzoor Hussain Bajwa.
Last year the target was fixed at 1.1 million tons but it could not be achieved due to scanty production and only 6.9 lacs ton wheat (62 percent of the target) was purchased by the Food Department Multan. This year a bumper crop is expected due to favourable weather conditions and the target is quite achievable.
He said prospective sellers are issued gunny bags against a payment of Rs 50 per bag which is refunded when they fetch the grain to the procurement centre, he added.
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