Chandigarh, March 27: The Punjab Government led by Captain Amarinder Singh has urged the Centre to stagger the wheat procurement process this year, in view of delayed harvesting, and to incentivize the farmers to delay bringing in the food grain to the Mandis to prevent overcrowding there.
On the Chief Minister’s directive, Additional Chief Secretary Viswajeet Khanna has written to Union Secretary Agriculture Sanjay Aggarwal seeking incentive for farmers who delay bringing in the Wheat produce to the Mandis to May and June.
This, he said, shall reduce the burden on Mandi operations and also reduce carrying cost. Additionally, it will be a major step to combat the possibility of spread of COVIF-19, wrote Aggarwal.
The Punjab Government has proposed no incentive for farmers bringing in the grain at the Mandis from 15th to 30th April, 2020, but Rs 100 per quintal and Rs. 200 per quintal, in addition of the MSP of Rs 1925, for those bringing in the produce in May and June, respectively.
The ACS pointed out that the wheat procurement in Punjab, which was to originally start on April 1, 2020, has been now postponed and is likely to start from April 15, 2020.
To avoid overcrowding at the Mandis, and as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it will be imperative to stagger the procurement operations, which can be done by incentivising the farmers to delay bringing in the food grains to the Mandis, he added.
This measure, Khanna pointed out, would reduce burden on Mandi operations and also slash carrying costs. Additionally, it would be a major step to contain the possibility of spread of COVID-19.
