Deputy Commissioner holds meeting to review preparations for wheat procurement

Deputy Commissioner Sushil Sarwan chaired a meeting today organized in the auditorium of the Mini Secretariat to review preparations for wheat procurement in the Rabi procurement season 2024-25, starting from April 1. During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner issued appropriate directions to the concerned officers and appointed SDM Panchkula, Gaurav Chauhan, as the administrator of the three mandis.

Sarwan instructed the procurement agencies – Haryana Warehousing Corporation and HAFED – to arrange an adequate quantity of gunny bags in the mandis and to provide two moisture meters in every mandi. He appealed to farmers in the district to ensure their crops are thoroughly dried before bringing them to the markets to expedite the harvesting process.

Furthermore, Sushil Sarwan instructed officials of the Agriculture Department to update works related to farmers’ registration and bank accounts on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal to ensure timely payment to farmers after the sale of the crop. Procurement agencies were directed to deploy staff in the mandis, establish control rooms, purchase wheat and mustard as per specifications, ensure timely lifting and proper storage arrangements, and coordinate with labor and transport contractors to provide trucks and labor adequately.

The Deputy Commissioner also emphasized the importance of sanitation facilities, cleanliness, drinking water, and quality food for farmers in the mandis. Additionally, he stressed the need for wooden crates, tarpaulin, and sufficient labor for shed repairs, market cleanliness, and protecting crops from rain. Farmers were urged to bring dried and cleaned crops to the mandis only, and agencies were instructed to ensure smooth crop lifting to prevent overcrowding in the mandis.

During the Rabi procurement season, wheat procurement is scheduled to begin on April 1, with mustard procurement already underway. Wheat will be purchased at Rs 2275 per quintal, while the minimum price for mustard procurement is set at Rs 5650 per quintal. Last year, Panchkula district procured 34231 metric tonnes of wheat and 1235 metric tonnes of mustard during the Rabi procurement season. The Deputy Commissioner directed all agencies to submit closure reports every evening.

Present at the meeting were SDM Gaurav Chauhan, District Food Supply Controller Naresh Kumar, Deputy Director of Agriculture Department Dr. Surendra Singh Yadav, Lead Bank Manager Surendra Sharma, representatives from HAFED and Ambala Warehousing Corporation, Executive Engineer PWD Arun Singh, SDO Hemant Sharma, ASMC Panchkula Baldev Singh, and Mandi Secretaries.