Reiterating that the Punjab Government has always beenstood firmly by the farmers, Cabinet Minister Pargat Singh today kick startedpaddy procurement at New Grain Market, Jalandhar.
Accompanied by Member Parliament Chaudhry Santokh Singh,MLA Avtar Henry Junior, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori, the minister saidthat as many as 10 lakh metric tons paddy was expected to arrival in the grainmarkets in Jalandhar adding that the state government was committed toprocure every grain of the produce because it was the fruit of six months ofhard work of the farmers. “Punjab Government has made all out arrangements forthe smooth and uninterrupted procurement of paddy crops in all the Mandis ofthe state”, he mentioned.
He added that there was sufficient availability of gunnybags besides proper arrangements for lifting and payment were already made inall the purchase centers where farmers will get the payment of their producewithin stipulated time-frame. Mr. Singh appealed to the farmers not to set firecrop residue in the fields as it will exacerbate COVID situation in the stateand bring only dry produce to the mandis for easy and hassle-free procurement.
Interacting with media persons, the minister thanked ChiefMinister Charanjit Singh Channi after whose personal efforts immediateprocurement could be started, thereby giving a sigh of relief to farmers in thestate. Earlier, Mr. Singh interacted with the representatives of ArhtiyaAssociation and officials of various procurement agencies.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said that atotal of 78 purchase centers were set up in the district where elaboratearrangements were put in place to ensure procurement in a hassle-free manner.He said that the district administration would leave no stone unturned tofacilitate farmers during the whole procurement operations. The DC furtheradded that as many as 3610 metric tons paddy has been arrived in Jalandharincluding 610 MTs in mandis falling under Adampur market committee, followed by1087, 644, 510, 297, and 70 MTs in Bhogpur, Jalandhar City, Lohian Khas,Mehatpur, and Shahkot market committees respectively. He said that all theofficials were asked to ensure timely procurement, lifting and payment of cropsas any kind of laxity in this task would be dealt with heavy hands.
Prominent among others present on the occasion included SDMBalbir Raj Singh, District Mandi Officer Mukesh Kaile, District Food and CivilSupplies Controller Harsharan Singh, and representatives of procurementagencies and Arhtiya association.