Wheat procurement season ends

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 13

With wheat procurement season coming to end on Thursday, various procurement agencies purchased 7,41,616 MT of foodgrains. Only 1,128 MT has been purchased by private players while the remaining has been procured by the government agencies.

Though the procurement process has been completed, a major portion of foodgrains purchased by different agencies was yet to be lifted from grain markets.

Officials said 3,52,542 MT of wheat stock has been lifted from mandis while the remaining was still lying in the open. The district has witnessed intermittent showers in the last four days, as a result, wheat lying in the open has got drenched. A commission agent said showers have added to their trouble as labourers have to cover gunny bags whenever it rains.

The state government agency, Pungrain, which had been leading in the procurement has purchased a total of 2,17,834 MT followed by Punsup with 1,72,657 MT. Markfed has procured 1,58,070 MT wheat while Punjab Warehouse has purchased 95,053 MT. The Food Corporation of India has procured 93,614 MT.

The wheat procurement season in state has ended early this year due to pandemic. Earlier, the procurement process was scheduled to end on May 31. The wheat procurement in state had began on April 10. However, as harvesting started late in the district, produce arrived in markets after April 18.