SAHIWAL: The Divisional Food Department will procure 423,000 ton wheat from the division this year.

Wheat will be purchased against the support price of Rs1,200 per maund.

Dawn learnt that the food department would pay an extra Rs7.50 as delivery charges to farmers against each 100kg wheat bag. The department will purchase wheat at 42 centres being set up at five tehsils of the division, i.e. Chichawatni, Arifwala, Renala Khurd, Depalpur and Sahiwal.

Rao Muhammad Touheed, deputy director food, said 171,000, 1,60,000 and 92,000 ton wheat will be purchased from Sahiwal, Okara and Pakpattan districts, respectively.

The department will complete its procurement target until May 31. It will provide 2,961,000 gunny bags to farmers during the first 15 days of wheat purchase campaign.

Mr Touheed said Rs134 would be deposited by farmers against each gunny bag and the department would return gunny bags amount the day wheat would arrive at the centres.

Sahiwal Commissioner Muhammad Sadeeq Sheikh kicked off wheat collection campaign by distributing gunny bags among farmers at Ghala Mandi wheat collection centres.

The assistant commissioners are regularly visiting wheat procurement centres. Wheat farmers have also been provided a toll-free number 0800-34343 for complaints against the shortage of gunny bags or low payment than actual support price.

The Pakistani Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) will separately purchase wheat.

“Passco will procure wheat from two tehsils -- Pakpattan and Sahiwal,” Mr Touheed said.