The Food Minister Punjab, Hussain Jahanian Gardezi on Monday said that the exact date of wheat procurement would soon be announced as the crop is not fully matured for harvesting in the province. Talking to APP, he said that he is conducting survey of all wheat growing areas of the province to personally assess the condition of crop.
He said that in majority of the areas, the crop is not fully matured for harvesting. He said "the moment, the crop is ready for harvesting, we will kick off procurement drive simultaneously across the province".
He said "we have already finalised the foolproof procurement arrangements" in this regard. The Punjab Food department has set up 309 procurement centres for current wheat harvesting season across the province to facilitate growers at their doorsteps. He said that Food department on the special directive of the Chief Minister Punjab will continue to purchase wheat from growers "till the last grain" at the support price of Rs 425 per 40 kilogram.
The minister said that sufficient number of purchase centres have been established in all wheat growing areas across the province. "The number of these centres can be increased as and when needed", said Jahanian Gardezi. Out of 309 wheat centres, 189 are regular ones while the remaining are flag centres", he added.
Wheat procurement will continue on day-to-day basis without break, even on holidays, he said, adding that the procurement will commence soon simultaneously throughout the province and exact date will be announced soon.
As per past practice, gunny bags will be distributed to desirous farmers on personal surety through gazetted officers or local lumberdars, while bags over one hundred in quantity will be provided against call deposit. Traders will get the bags only through call deposit, and not on personal surety.
Hussain Jahanian said that a 4-member committee comprising representatives of the local MPA and the district government, farmers and the lumbardar concerned would supervise wheat procurement process at each centre, to ensure transparency and a fair deal to the growers.
Food Minister said in case of a bumper wheat crop, gunny bags, tarpaulin sheets etc will be procured on emergency basis to meet the demand, and an open target policy will be followed. He said toll-free telephones will be increased in number to redress genuine grievances of farmers on the spot.
The minister stated that in order to ensure effective procurement, only high level officials including ministers, members of Chief Minister Inspection Team, DCO, District Nazim and senior Food department officials will conduct inspections of the procurement centres.
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