Wheat lifting in Punjab has touched 93.70 lakh tonnes mark during the ongoing rabi marketing season, which is the highest procurement figure of the last three years. Out of total procurement, FCI and state government agencies lifted 8.9 million tonnes so far for the central pool which accounts for 95 per cent of the total procurement. State agencies procured 2.2 lakh tonnes for the state pool while private millers bought 2.43 lakh tonnes. The total lifting of wheat from Punjab remained at 92.72 lakh tonnes, 80.90 lakh tonnes and 79.67 lakh tonnes in 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively, as per data provided by FCI. Out of state agencies lifting, PUNGRAIN procured 16, 63,388 tonnes whereas MARKFED procured 21, 12,746 tonnes, PUNSUP procured 20, 37, 565 tonnes, PSWC procured 11, 20,706 tonnes whereas PAIC was able to procure 10, 16,036 tonnes of wheat for the central pool.The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 9, 53,885 tonnes for the central pool. The spokesman said that in addition to it, MARKFED procured 69413 tonnes, PUNSUP procured 76238 tonnes and PAIC procured 46,541 tonnes for the state pool. He added that Ferozepur district with 10,74,879 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District with 9,20,642 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Ludhiana district with 8,13,055 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position. The Punjab government and FCI have made a payment of more than Rs 8,916 crores to the farmers of the State for wheat procured upto May 3.
