TOBA TEK SINGH, May 16: The food department could purchase only 20,835 metric tones of the targeted 50,000 metric tones of wheat from the district.

The government has assigned the food department to procure wheat from Toba Tek Singh and Kamalia tehsils while Passco was asked to buy the commodity from Gojra.

Agriculture experts claim that this year per acre yield was much less than that of the last year so it will be impossible for the food department to achieve its target till July 15, the last date for the purpose.

A Pakistan Kissan Committee office-bearer claimed that one of the reasons for less yield was that farmers cultivated wheat over lesser area than the last year due to the misbehaviour of food officials with them during procurement drive.

Due to shortage of irrigation water wheat grain remained very small. That was the reason that per acre yield this year was between 10 maunds to 30 maunds. It was between 30 maunds to 45 maunds per acre last year, he added.

A food official claimed that wheat was being procured for Rs280 to Rs292 per 40 kilograms.

He said the department was purchasing wheat direct from the growers. —Correspondent