Only 1,564 MT wheat arrives in mandis

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 20

Of an estimated output of 5.5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat across 78 mandis this year, so far, only 1,564 metric tonnes have been received in Jalandhar. The increased moisture content in the wheat crop has delayed the wheat procurement across mandis.

This year, a bumper crop has been predicted for the state.

While 1,564 MT of wheat has arrived in mandis, of this, only 57 MT has been purchased so far, at the rate of Rs 1,840 per quintal.

Of the 78 mandis in Jalandhar, wheat has arrived in only 32 mandis and purchase has begin in merely three of them. This is in stark contrast to the wheat procurement of previous years wherein, by this time, at least 50 per cent wheat is procured. The purchase, too, begun only today as the Deputy Commissioner visited the new grain market to review the purchase process.

While the total output from farmers this year is pegged at 5.5 lakh metric tonnes, across the 78 mandis, the only mandis where the purchase of wheat has begun so far are grain markets in Shahkot and Lohian. Officials, however, said none of the stored wheat was disturbed by the recent inclement weather.

Speaking to The Tribune, District Mandi Board Officer Varinder Khera said, “Due to the increased moisture this year in the crops, the procurement process has been delayed. There has also been an impact on the crops due to the storm in the past few days and a further forecast of rain has also been made. There has otherwise been no significant damage to the crop in the district. The procurement will increase in the coming days and the total purchase estimates are pegged at 5.5 lakh metric tonnes.”

District Food and Supply Controller Narinder Singh said: “Compared to the previous years, the procurement has certainly been delayed. While 50 per cent of the wheat crop procurement was done by this time last year, this year the moisture in the crops has delayed the process. There was some early rain in February and March, which also played a dampener. However, we are expecting things to get better and the crop output in the district will match the bumper crop prediction across the state.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma, accompanied by the District Mandi Officer Varinder Khera and District Food and Supply Controller, Narinder Singh, visited the new grain market here today and took stock of the situation of the arrangements made for the wheat procurement.

He said the district administration was committed for ensuring smooth and hassle-free wheat procurement in the ongoing season to facilitate the farmers, adding that as compared to last year’s purchase of 5.39 lakh metric tonnes, in the current marketing season 5.50 lakh metric tonnes was expected in 2019-20.

He appealed to farmers to bring moisture-free grains to the market and avoid the burning of wheat straw that causes environmental hazard.