From now on, Indian Uttar Pradesh farmers will not have to go to the purchase centre to sell wheat in the state. The Food and Civil Supplies Department is making arrangements for farmers to purchase wheat from village to village through mobile centres, Trend reports citing India Today.
On Friday, about 11,126.66 metric tonnes of wheat was procured. Therefore, to increase procurement, it has been decided to buy wheat through mobile purchase centres.
For this, a purchasing centre in charge will negotiate with the fair rate vendors and village heads of the rural areas. Wheat used to be procured at government centres across the state. However, about 5,700 mobile procurement centres have been set up now for the same. Drinking water, shade and other necessary arrangements have been made at the centres so that the farmers do not face any kind of problem.
Only 1.28 lakh metric tonnes of wheat could be procured in the last month, while the government had set a target of purchasing 60 lakh tonnes. The government has been facing major challenges to fulfil the target of wheat procurement.
Speaking to India Today, UP Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said the government is constantly procuring wheat and launching schemes to expand it. At the same time, a farmer cannot be restricted if he is willing to sell the crop at the market price.
On the other hand, farmers sell wheat for Rs 2050-Rs 2200 per quintal in the market in Uttar Pradesh, whereas the MSP at government procurement centres is Rs 2015 per quintal, including Rs 20 for labour cost. Therefore, to increase procurement, it has been decided to buy wheat through mobile centres.
The purchase centre in charge will negotiate with the fair rate vendors and village heads of the rural areas. Following this, wheat will be weighed and loaded in the trucks, and then sent directly to the Food Corporation of India. The actual distance up to the depot of the FCI will be paid to the transport contractor as per the tender rates.
According to the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, the details of the village and purchases made on which date would be provided by the in-charge of the purchase centre. Meanwhile, the village head and the fair rate vendor will go to the village and inform the farmers about the arrival time of the mobile team.
The team operating the mobile purchase centre will buy wheat at the public places of the respective village, like Panchayat Bhawan, fair price vendor's shop etc. Also, the names and telephone numbers of the purchase centre in charge will be given so that the farmers themselves can take advantage of the facility by contacting them.