5, April 2005	Tuesday	25 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, April 4: Wheat procurement in the Punjab is yet to take off as recent rains seem to have delayed the crop arrival at least by seven days. According to the Food Department record, wheat has started arriving in the market but only in some pockets of Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and Pakpattan districts. The department itself is yet to make any procurement. Wheat has also eluded departmental flag centres because market rate ranges between Rs415 to Rs420 per 40kg. The moisture content is hovering around 22 per cent; 10 per cent more than permissible limit of 12 per cent. Farmers are getting this price in their fields and saving transportation charges as well, it is learnt.

According to some farmers, the growers are selling wheat hurriedly due to uncertain market behaviour.

Private sector is also yet to find its feet this year as far as procurement is concerned. Last year, by this time, the private sector had arranged huge storage capacity and started aggressive buying.

According to department officials, private sector is well aware of the fact that government organisations would start the season with a cumulative stock of around 700,000 tons. “With such a big stock and prospective bumper crop, private sector would not take any risk.”

They said that last ship carrying imported wheat would arrive on April 7. “This is a clear official message for the private sector to enter wheat buying spree carefully,” they claimed.

app adds: The Punjab government has allocated Rs41 billion for the procurement of 3.5 million tons of wheat from growers on cash payment during the current season.

Punjab food secretary Shahid Husain Raja said here on Monday the department had launched procurement drive on April 1 which would continue till the purchase of last wheat grain from growers at the support price of Rs400 per 40 kilograms.

He said in all, 447 purchase centres had been set up all over the province. Their number could be increased, if needed. The federal government has fixed the wheat procurement target of 3.5 million tons from Punjab. The procurement of wheat would continue from 7am to 7pm daily without any break even on holidays, he added.

Mr Raja said the food department and Passco would procure wheat in their respective area as they did last year.

He said gunny bags were being distributed among growers on personal surety from any gazetted officer or lamberdar while more than 100 bags would be provided against call deposit.

Traders would get the bags only through call deposit and not on personal surety, he added.

Mr Raja said a four-member committee comprising representatives of local MPAs, the district government, farmers and lambardar concerned have been constituted for each centre to monitor the procurement drive.

Regarding inspection of centres, he said only ministers, advisers and members of the Chief Minister Inspection Team would do the job.

Mr Raja said cash rewards would be given to the food department staff for their performance in procurement drive.

According to the Punjab agriculture department, 15.69 million acres more land was brought under wheat cultivation. The department also got samples from all the districts and expects a bumper crop this year.