‘UP PURCHASED 22L MT WHEAT SO FAR, PAID ₹2933 CR’

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has purchased around 22 lakh MT wheat from farmers so far amid spread of Covid-19 to rural areas. This is nearly double the wheat procured during the corresponding period last year.

“We have purchased 21.45 lakh MT wheat from 4,20,948 farmers and have already paid Rs 2933.34 crore to them while Rs 4237.50 crore will be credited to their accounts very soon,” said commissioner, food and civil supplies, Manish Chauhan. “The government procured 12.11 lakh MT wheat during the corresponding period previous year,” he pointed out. The Centre has fixed the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat at Rs 1975 per quintal for the current procurement season. For the first time, the state government fixed no wheat purchase target this year, deciding to purchase all the wheat brought to the purchase centeres during the procurement season.