LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government is on the verge of breaking its own record in wheat procurement this year, having already purchased around 51.05 lakh tons of wheat from more than 11.54 lakh farmers since April 1.
The state set the record for the highest wheat purchase in a year in 2018-19 when it procured 52.92 lakh tons.
With current procurement scheduled to carry on till June 15, it is likely to surpass the previous record.
Procurement of wheat in the corresponding period in 2020-21 was just 29.92 lakh tons.
The government has not set any target for wheat procurement this year, said government spokesperson, as chief minister Yogi Adityanath did not want to limit procurement only to fulfilment of the prescribed target.
“Despite the second wave of Covid, we have been purchasing almost 1 lakh tons of wheat every day.
On June 11, around 1.19 lakh tons was procured,” said Food and Supply Commissioner Maneesh Chauhan, adding that wheat worth Rs 10,082.99 crore has been purchased so far.
For the first time, farmers have received direct benefits against the sale of wheat under “One Nation, One MSP, One DBT”.
The payment is being transferred into their bank accounts within 72 hours of purchase, Chauhan said.
The government has nominated seven purchasing agencies, including the department of food and civil supplies, PCF, UPSS, UPPCU, SFC, Mandi Parishad and Food Corporation of India.
The number of procurement centres has been increased from 5,000 last year to 6,000 this time while the MSP for wheat has been increased from Rs 1,925 per quintal in 2020-21 to Rs 1,975 per quintal in 2021-22.
Arrangements are also being made for the safe storage of wheat in light of the monsoon rain.
“An online token system has been arranged this year for farmers to get tokens for sale of wheat at the purchasing centre as per their convenience.
Centres have been geo-tagged to help farmers locate the centres easily.
To eliminate middlemen, electronic point of purchase (e-PoP) machines are being used,” an official said.