In order to prevent overcrowding in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, around 27 lakh coupons will be issued to farmers for bringing their crop to the grain markets for procurement, starting from 15 April.
Officials said that as the Punjab government has already decided to stagger wheat purchase by extending the procurement season till 15th June, it is likely to obtain 135 lakh metric tonnes of crop for the Rabi marketing season 2020-21.
To control overcrowding in mandis, the number of purchase centres has also been increased to around 3,691 in Punjab by involving 1,824 rice mills.
A senior official of Punjab Food & Civil Supply Department told that "The market committees would issue coupons to commission agents (Arthiyas) who in turn will give them to the farmers, who are associated with them, to bring their crop to mandis".
An official of Punjab Mandi Board said that "A total of 27 lakh coupons would be issued for wheat procurement".
He added that “One coupon will be meant for 1 tractor trolley for a specific mandi on a given day. If a farmer needs more trolleys for transporting wheat to mandis, then each trolley would be issued separate coupon".
The official said a farmer shall be entitled to take many coupons each day or on different days depending on the space in purchase centre so as to avoid rush in the mandis. To maintain social distancing at mandis, the ground space there has been divided into 30X30 feet for 50 quintals of crop, official told.
It must be noted that curfew restrictions are in place in the state in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak. Growers will be required to bring minimum possible people with the tractor trolley to avoid gathering at mandis.
Punjab Mandi Board has developed a mobile app known as ePMB that will help to track movement of tractor trolleys, issuance of passes & utilization of space at grain market. Harvesting operations by combines would be allowed in between 6 am to 7 pm.
Punjab has already written to the Central government seeking incentives for growers who delay bringing in the wheat produce to the mandis to May & June. It has recommended no incentive for cultivators bringing in grain at mandis from 15-30 April, but an incentive of Rs 100 / quintal & Rs 200 / quintal in addition to minimum support price of Rs 1,925 for those who bring in the produce in May & June, respectively.
Viswajeet Khanna, Additional Chief Secretary (Development) said all requisite arrangements have been made by Mandi Board well in advance for procurement which will start from 15 April and continue till 31 May.
Source -PTI
