SAHIWAL: The food department is running a 10-day-long drive to distribute 1.8 million gunny bags among the wheat growers of Sahiwal district that will conclude on April 17.

This was stated by Punjab Food Director Dr Zafar Iqbal who visited different wheat procurement centres at Harappa, Dad Fityana and Kassowal on Wednesday. He added that the gunny bags would be distributed through 22 centres set up by food department in the district.

During the drive that started on April 8, so far 16,500 farmers had been given gunny bags, District Food Controller (DFC) Rohail Butt, told Dawn, adding that total 66,000 wheat growers would get gunny bags as per the final list prepared by the local revenue department.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Zaman Wattoo said the revenue department’s list that had been dispatched to the 22 centres in the district was based on land ownership record of wheat growers.

He said assistant commissioners concerned, along with food department officials, had been deputed to monitor the ongoing drive.

The DFC claimed that it was being ensured that no middleman should get gunny bags and the revenue department list was being strictly followed.

He said the food department was ensuring the availability of gardawari documents, makeshift tents and cold drinking water for the growers visiting the centres to get the gunny bags.

Earlier, at a meeting held at the Zila Council Hall, Punjab government policy guidelines for the wheat procurement 2019-20 were shared with the food centre in charges.

The DFC said that the department would facilitate small growers on priority.

Punjab government will purchase 1.8 million metric tonne wheat at Rs1,300 per 40kg support price from growers in the district.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2019