UP govt to purchase 40 lakh MT wheat directly from farmers

LUCKNOW: The state government has decided to purchase 40 lakh MT of wheat directly from the farmers without roping in middlemen this year.

As per the new wheat purchase policy that is likely to be announced for the current year very soon, the government will set up 5,500 procurement centres, 500 more than last year, to purchase wheat at a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹1735 per quintal between April and June.

The wheat purchase target for this year has been fixed at 40 lakh MT.

Last year, the Yogi Adityanath government had fixed two phase targets, 40 lakh MT in the first phase and 40 more in the next phase, if needed.

It procured around 37 lakh MT wheat against the target of 40 lakh MT.

“Actually, 40 lakh MT is only an indicative target because we will purchase as much wheat as the farmers want to sell at our centres which will be set up in such a way so that a farmer doesn’t have to travel more than 8 km to sell his crop,” principal

Actually, 40 lakh MT is only an indicative target because we will purchase as much wheat as the farmers want to sell at our centres which will be set up in such a way so that a farmer doesn’t have to travel more than 8 km to sell his crop

NIVEDITA SHUKLA VERMA, principal secretary, food and civil supply,

secretary, food and civil supply, Nivedita Shukla Verma said. “We will not allow middlemen to purchase wheat from farmers below MSP and then sell the same to us at MSP,” she said.

She said the Mandi Parishad had asked to ban purchase of wheat by traders outside the mandi yards.

“We made record purchase of paddy this year without middlemen and we hope to do equally well in wheat procurement,” Verma said.