Chandigarh, April 14: Six government agencies and private millers have procured more than 1.8 lac tonnes of wheat in Punjab.According to an official spokesman Government agencies and private millers procured more than 1.8 lac tonnes of wheat till Sunday evening. Out of total procurement of 180419 tonnes of wheat in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 175604 tonnes of wheat (97.3%) till date whereas millers have lifted 4815 tonnes (2.7%) of wheat. Till April 13, PUNGRAIN had procured 23811 tonnes (13.4%) whereas MARKFED procured 42563 tonnes (24.2%). PUNSUP procured 47470 tonnes (27%) , PSWC procured 21374 tonnes (12.2%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 33018 tonnes (18 %) of wheat.The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 7568 tonnes (4.3%). The spokesman said that mandis of Patiala and Ferozepur division were witnessing massive procurement due to early harvesting whereas Jalandhar division was lagging behind because of late ripening of wheat.
He added that Patiala District with 139023 tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur District with 14340 tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Fatehgarh Sahib district with a 7093 tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.The State Government has set up 1544 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of wheat, the spokesman added.