LAHORE: Punjab has procured 4,295.5 metric tonnes of wheat worth Rs375.85 million at the notified rate of Rs3,500 per 40 kg, meeting 0.14 per cent of its initial 3-million-tonne target, Food Directorate data shows.
An official said on Thursday that 70,597 farmers have registered at 233 procurement centres since the drive began. The department has distributed 0.211 million gunny bags, each with 100-kg capacity, from a total stock of 1.849 million bags. That is 11.4 per cent of available gunny bag stock.
So far, 42,955 bags have been returned filled and procured from farmers. This is 20.3 per cent of the distributed bags and 2.3 per cent of total gunny bag stock. The 42,955 bags equal 4,295.5 tonnes of wheat.
At Rs3,500 per 40 kg, the official price works out to Rs8,750 per 100-kg bag or Rs87,500 per tonne. By that rate, the 4,295.5 tons procured so far are valued at Rs375.85 million.
The directorate reported Rs133 million has been transferred to farmers’ bank accounts within 72 hours of purchase. That covers 35.4 per cent of the Rs375.85 million value of wheat procured to date, implying Rs242.85 million in payments for the procured stock is still in process or pending.
Fourteen private companies or aggregators are participating in procurement, officials said. Registration of farmers is continuing at all centres.The provincial government is providing gunny bags free of cost, with the allocation valued at Rs6 billion. Farmers must submit CNIC and bank details at centres to receive bags. Kisan Card holders and small farmers are being given priority under the policy.
Procurement centres will operate on Sundays and public holidays, the department said. Management committees are monitoring the drive at provincial and divisional levels. Special Monitoring Unit staff are deployed at centres for on-spot complaint redressal. The toll-free helpline 0800-60606 is active for grievances.
Against the 3-million-tonne target, the 21,124 tons worth of gunny bags distributed so far equals 0.7 per cent of required bagging capacity. Actual procurement of 4,295.5 tonnes leaves 2,995,704.5 tonnes, valued at Rs262.12 billion at the notified rate, to meet the target.
The department has not disclosed the start date of procurement. If the 4,295.5 tonnes were procured in the first 7 days, the daily average stands at meagre 613.6 tonnes. At that pace, meeting the 3-million target would be impossible. An official said that procurement would pick pace in the next couple of weeks.
