Punjab procures 11 MT wheat

Government agencies and private millers have reportedly procured more than 11 million tonnes (MT) i.e. 1,10,40,000 tonnes of wheat till last evening while 1,02,17,000 tonnes were procured last year.

Of the total procurement of 1,10,40,000 tonnes, government agencies have procured 1,09,15,000 tonnes of wheat (99.5 per cent) till date whereas private traders have procured 33,836 tonnes (0.5 per cent).

The central government agency, Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been able to procure 16,60,000 tonnes of wheat which is 15 per cent of the total procurement of wheat in the state. The spokesman added, Ferozepur with 13,67,000 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas district Sangrur with 10,28,000 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and district Ludhiana with 8,60,000 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position. The state government has set up 1,734 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of wheat, the spokesman added.