Procurement begins from April 1

CHANDIGARH, Feb 9: The procurement operations in Punjab would begin from April 1 to mop up anticipated marketable surplus of 70 lakh tonnes of wheat out of the total production of 140 lakh tonnes in the state. As per the arrangements made by the state government, the procurement agencies would purchase 68 lakh tonnes with 2 lakh tonnes going to the traders.

The share of the Food Corporation of India would be 33 per cent, Food and Supplies Department 13 per cent, Markfed 18 per cent, Punsup 18 per cent, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 11 per cent and Punjab State Agro-Industries Corporation 7 per cent.

According to Food and Supplies Minister M M Mittal, the state government had set up 1,493 purchase centres last year out of which 910 centres have been approved by the Punjab Mandi Board, while 612 more regular centres were being opened.