Punjab expects bumper crop of wheat production

Although the food crisis is being faced at a global level and even India had to export wheat for maintaining its buffer stock, this year in spite of thunderstorms, which adversely affected the standing crop of wheat in Punjab, the state government is expecting a bumper wheat crop and has put a target to procure 80 to 90 lakh metric tonne of wheat out of total expected production of 150 lakh metric tonne.

"As this year, wheat was cultivated on about 13,000 hectare more of land, it is expected that the production of wheat will be about 150 lakh metric tonne, much higher than the production of last year," RPS Pawar, secretary (food and civil supplies), Punjab, who was here in the city for meeting the department officials, told reporters.

Out of the expected production, 80 to 90 lakh metric tonne of wheat would be procured by the government agencies, leaving rest of the procurement for private agencies, he said revealing that till yesterday 12,000 tonne of wheat had already arrived in the mandis, which was not on expected line, due to recent bad weather condition.

He said that to curtail involvement of black money in the procurement process and stop hoarding of the wheat, if any private traders would procure more than 10,000 tonne of wheat, he would have to file a return to the department regarding the purchase.

Asked whether there was any possibility of giving relaxation of discolour of the crop due to the recent thunderstorm, Pawar said the issue was taken with the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar during his recent visit to Chandigarh and after getting the sample of the crop, the issue would be again discussed the concerned central authorities for final decision.

Meanwhile, the state government has ordered special "girdavari' to ascertain the quantum of loss of the crop in the recently lashed heavy rain, Pawar said adding that within two weeks, report of the special girdavari would be submitted to the state government for appropriate compensation to the farmers.

He claimed that preparations for the smooth procurement including arrangement of gunny bags have been completed and officials have been issued strict instructions for the smooth procurement and even warning was issued that if any employee was found for his involvement in the mal-practice in the procurement process would not be spared.