Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Dr Senu Duggal and SSP Dr Pragya Jain today came out in the field to boost the lifting of wheat from market yards. Both also visited warehouses to review the unloading of wheat and to assess the ground situation.

While interacting with farmers, arhtiyas and laborers, the DC assured them that agencies will ensure hassle-free procurement of wheat. The DC warned the transporters and officials of procurement agencies to lift wheat immediately from mandis. She ordered transporters to provide trucks as per the demands of agencies otherwise to be ready to face the heat.

The DC appealed the farmers to bring dry crops in mandi and said that moisture level of wheat should be below 12 percent as prescribed by Food Corporation of India. She also ordered the Market Committee officials to arrange Tarpals as per need to cover the crop in case of rain. She also directed the officials to arrange basic amenities such as drinking water and shade in Mandis.

Dr Duggal said that till the last evening 1,54,630 MT wheat arrived in mandis of district Fazilka, out of which 1,32,596 MT wheat was procured by different agencies. Markfed is leading among the agencies with purchase of 42445 MT, while PUNGRAIN procured 37951 MT, PUNSUP procured 31456 MT, PSWC procured 16602 MT and 4142 MT was procured by private traders.

She said that so for Rs 140 crore have been paid to farmers in the district against procurement by different agencies.