The Fact News Service
Ludhiana, October 22
With the 109 % lifting of paddy and 103 % payments cleared already to the farmers for the procured paddy, the district administration had been ensuring a smooth and hassle-free procurement season.
As per the details available regarding the ongoing Kharif marketing season, the procurement agencies had procured 317121 metric tons (MT) of paddy out of a total of 333792 MT paddy arrived in the grain markets/purchase centers till Thursday which is around 95 percent. In the last 72 hours, the procurement agencies had lifted 109.01 % percent of the stock and the process was being expedited as the warning was already issued to the officials for any kind of undue delay.
Further during the last 48 hours, the payments of Rs 499.52 crore were due but the government had cleared the payments of Rs 514.75 crore progressively which is around 103 percent.
Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik reiterated that on the directions of the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the administration was firmly committed to completing the procurement season without any inconvenience to the farmers. She said that the emphasis was being laid on the spot procurement of the crop so that farmers do not have to wait for the buyer in the markets.
Malik said that a robust mechanism was put in place to make sure that crop was procured and lifted as soon as it come into the grain markets/purchase centers and told that the officers/ officials had been directed to ensure daily field visits to inspect the on-going procurement operations and facilitate the farmers. She said the officers must undertake regular visits to the grain markets under their jurisdiction and submit the daily report to her for regular monitoring. She said that elaborate arrangements and efforts were made in the mandis to ensure smooth procurement, lifting, and payment of paddy.
Meanwhile, The Deputy Commissioner said that the Chiefs of the procurement agencies to expedite further the process of procurement in the grain markets besides directing them that any sort of laxity in performing duties is totally unwarranted and undesirable. She said that farmers’ produce would be purchased and lifted at the earliest to facilitate them.
