GUJRAT: Up to 20,000 metric tons of wheat will be procured in the Gujrat district as the local administration began the distribution of gunny bags on Tuesday.

Up to 486 applicants have got themselves registered with the food department to get gunny bags.The local administration has established five wheat procurement centres in the district.

The target of procurement of around 6,000 metric tons of wheat has been set for the Mungowal center followed by 5,000 metric tons for Dinga whereas Gujrat, Jalalpur Jattan and Lalamusa centers will procure 3000 metric tons each.

Applications for the issuance of gunny bags were received online in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic whereas the payments to the farmers will be made through their bank accounts to make the procedure a transparent one.

Kissan Board President Ashraf Gondal expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements at wheat procurement centres in the district and said that he would encourage the farmers to sell their product to the government.

The Punjab government has fixed the price of 40 kilograms of wheat at Rs1,800 this year.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2021