Wheat procurement begins in UP, CM asks officers to ensure farmers get paid within 72 hours

Lucknow: The Rabi crop procurement on fixed MSP for the 2022-23 marketing year started from Friday in Uttar Pradesh. The government has fixed a target of procuring 60 lakh MT of Wheat this year.

The Central government has fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat at Rs 2,015 per quintal, hiking it by Rs 40 from last year's Rs 1,975 per quintal.

Chairing a high-level review meeting of officials, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued directions that the money for the procurement of wheat should be transferred to the bank account of the farmers within 72 hours of the crop procurement.

"Officers should make all the necessary arrangements for the procurement of wheat in their respective districts so that farmers do not face any problem," said the Chief Minister.

As informed by department officials, till now, over 148383 farmers have registered themselves for selling their produce. Total, 4593 centres have been opened for the convenience of the farmers of which purchase has begun on 3980 centres.

The CM also directed the officials to ensure timely lifting of the crop from the mandis and to make all necessary arrangements for the farmers in the mandi.

Procurement of wheat would be done by food and civil supplies department, UP Cooperative Federation (PCF), UP Cooperative Union Ltd (PCU), Mandi Parishad, UP Consumer Cooperative Union (UPSS), SFC, and BFC are designated as purchase institutions for the purchase of wheat under the Minimum Support Price Scheme.

For benefitting the farmers at the grassroot level, the UP government has introduced new devices and technology, aiding the farmers in receiving the best price for their produce. The purchase is being done on the basis of biometric verification of farmers or their authorised representative through e-pop at the centres.