LAHORE: (APP) An amount of Rs 130 billion will be spent for the purchase of 4 million metric tons wheat from the growers across the province Punjab during the current season and the farmers would be provided all out facilities at the wheat procurement centres. This was stated by Punjab Food minister Bilal Yasin during a Lahore Division meeting with representatives of farmers of all districts of Lahore division.
Giving salient features of Punjab Wheat Procurement Policy, the Minister Food said that transparent distribution of Bardana (gunny bags) among the farmers would be ensured besides making comfortable seating arrangements, availability of cold drinking water and revenue staff would also be ensured.
He assured that the labour force in sufficient numbers would be deployed at the wheat procurement centres for unloading wheat laden trolleys to avoid long queues.
He said that district, tehsil and centre level co-ordination committees would also be remained active while making electronic monitoring of the wheat procurement process.
The minister said that the interests of small farmers would be safeguarded and middleman would strictly be discouraged. He informed that the Chief Minister Punjab had assigned the duties to the Provincial Ministers, Secretaries and other high ranking officers to monitor the wheat procurement campaign.
He said that the farmers would be paid supporting price Rs 1300 per 40 kg wheat for which time period of the distribution of jute bag to growers had been limited to 30 days.