Lucknow: The state govt said on Friday that it has procured 6.10 lakh metric tonnes of wheat while disbursing Rs 1,318 crore to 115,854 farmers in the state by the end of April.A state govt spokesperson said that arrangements at procurement centres across the state have been strengthened. The processes for weighing, storage and payment have been streamlined and made transparent to ensure that farmers face no difficulties whatsoever while selling their produce.Officials have been issued clear directives to ensure that adequate resources are available at every centre and that no farmer is turned away.The state govt said that the districts in the Purvanchal region have delivered an exceptional performance in wheat procurement. Deoria has secured the top spot in the state with a procurement rate of 55.82%. Additionally, districts such as Basti, Pratapgarh, Balrampur and Sant Kabir Nagar are also making progress in this regard. Improved management and a transparent system have significantly bolstered the farmers’ confidence.This season, unseasonal rains adversely affected the quality of the wheat crop. The grains became shrivelled, and their natural lustre diminished. In light of this situation, and taking a major decision in the interest of the farming community, the Centre has provided relief. Permission has now been granted to procure wheat with up to 70% loss of lustre and up to 20% shrivelled or broken grains without any price cuts, thereby shielding farmers from financial losses.The entire process — from initial registration to final payment — has been digitised. “Farmers are able to register with ease and are receiving their payments directly into their bank accounts. Additionally, by strengthening the monitoring mechanism, steps are being taken to ensure that the maximum number of farmers are able to avail the benefits of the Minimum Support Price (MSP),” the spokesperson said.
