JALANDHAR
The state-owned procurement agency Pun Grain is leading in terms of maximum procurement of paddy and clearing the highest payments to the farmers in the district during the Kharif Marketing season (KMS) of this year.
As per data from the Food, Civil and Supply department, Pun Grain has so far procured 99864-MT paddy followed by Pun sup (78708-MT procured), Markfed (67357-MT procured), Punjab State Warehouse Corporation (27694-MT procured) and others.
Besides, Pungain has also made payments amounting to ₹195 crore to the farmers who sold their paddy.
The data shows that Markfed and Punsup, other state procurement agencies, have cleared payments amounting to ₹143 crore and ₹132 crore, respectively. Punjab State Warehousing Corporation has also paid ₹49 crore as payments to farmers for paddy procurement.
Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal said the Punjab government has procured 274390 metric tons of paddy so far, out of the 280092 metric tons that arrived for sale at 81-grain markets and purchase centres in the district.
He said that the district administration had laid a major focus on ensuring timely procurement, lifting, and payment so that farmers do not face any kind of problem during the entire operation. He directed officials tasked with procurement to ensure the lifting of crops within the stipulated time frame after arrival. He said that all -out efforts were being made to facilitate the farmers for selling their harvest.
The Deputy Commissioner mentioned that he had been personally monitoring the purchase, lifting, and payment process in the district and assured the farmers that procurement operations would be accomplished smoothly.