Minister Food Punjab unveils wheat procurement campaign 2015

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin has said that Punjab government will purchase 40 lakh metric tons wheat at the rate of Rs. 1300 per mound from the farmers during wheat procurement campaign. He said that Food Department has completed all arrangements in this regard. He said that distribution of gunny bags among farmers will be started from April 20 while wheat procurement from April 25.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Civil Secretariat regarding wheat procurement campaign 2015 today.

Secretary Food Dr. Pervaiz Ahmed Khan and Director Food Asif Bilal Lodhi were also present on the occasion.

Giving briefing to media regarding wheat procurement campaign 2015, the Minister said that government has completed all out steps for facilitating the farmers during wheat procurement campaign and this campaign will continue till the purchase of last grain. He said that government has eliminated the traditional negative role of middleman and wheat will be directly purchased from farmers in the interest of farmers.

Bilal Yasin informed that committees have been constituted under the supervision of DCOs at district level for the transparency of wheat procurement campaign. He said that distribution of gunny bags from 10-200 will be started from April 20.

He said that delivery charges of 7.5 rupees per 100 kg will also be paid to the farmers. He told that 70 percent gunny bags will be distributed within first 15 days while 20 percent in next 15 days and 10 percent in last 10 days. He said that the aim or transparent distribution of gunny bags is that maximum wheat should be purchased from small cultivators.

He said that 376 wheat procurement centres have been set up throughout the province while gunny bags will be distributed among the farmers through Punjab Information Technology. He said that complaint cell have been set up in procurement centres of all districts for the facility of farmers and mobile numbers of Food Minister, Secretary Food and Director Food have been displayed at flax for the redressal of complaints of farmers.

He said that no negligence will be tolerated during wheat procurement campaign. The Minister said that Rs. 130 billion will be required for purchasing 40 lakh metric tons wheat which will be fulfilled through banking and all arrangements have been completed for this purpose.

He said government wants that farmers should get due return of their produce and interest of small farmers should be protected by eliminating the role of middleman.