New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government’s wheat procurement has reached to around 4.92 lakh metric tonnes so far, in the ongoing 2021-22 marketing year that began this month. Amid the rising cases of coronavirus, the farmers are made to follow the COVID protocol- use of sanitizers, masks and social distancing is being followed.
In the Rabi marketing year, the procurement of wheat directly from farmers under the Minimum Support Price Scheme commenced on April 1, 2021. The government has increased the MSP of wheat from Rs 1,925 in 2020-21 to Rs 1,975 in 2021-22. Besides, the number of procurement centers has been increased from 5000 last year to 6,000 this time.
Despite the onslaught of Covid, the Yogi government did not lower the guard at purchase centres and ensured the smooth procurement process.
About 4.92 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have been procured till April 21 as against 53,679 .17 MT in the previous year (in same period). Until now,94590 farmers from various districts of the state have benefitted as compared to last year where only 39000 farmers were benefitted (in same period),” said Manish Chauhan, Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies Department.
`Huge quantity of wheat is being purchased and the procurement process is running smoothly. To ensure that farmers do not face any problem, the government has nominated seven purchasing agencies, including the Department of Food and Supplies, PCF, UPSS, UPPCU, SFC, Mandi Parishad and Food Corporation of India. So far the Food Department has procured 130531.95 MT, PCF 211494.40 MT, UPSS 44475.20 MT, UPPCU 61008.88 MT, SFC 13357.10 MT, Mandi Parishad 13720.96 MT and Food Corporation of India has purchased 17883.55 MT of the total wheat.
To prevent the farmers from getting infected with the coronavirus, Covid desk has set up at every centre. There is a ban on anyone coming without a mask. Farmers not wearing a mask are being provided through this desk. Social Distancing is being followed. The centers are also providing the facility of handwash, water, sanitizer, thermometer and oximeter to keep a check on the spread of coronavirus.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has continuously been working in the interest of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh. For benefitting the farmers at the grassroot level, this year, geo-tagging of all storage godowns and purchasing centers has been done by the government through the Remote Sensing Application Center, Lucknow. At the same time, online tokens have been arranged by the government for the convenience of farmers to prevent the COVID spread. So far 1,38858 farmers have received online tokens.
