About 2.98 lakh MT of wheat procured so far in Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow, 17 April (HS) : The Uttar Pradesh government’s wheat procurement has reached to around 2.98 lakh metric tonnes so far, in the ongoing 2021-22 marketing year that began this month. In the Rabi marketing year, the procurement of wheat directly from farmers under the Minimum Support Price Scheme commenced on April 1, 2021. The government has increased the MSP of wheat from Rs 1,925 in 2020-21 to Rs 1,975 in 2021-22. Besides, the number of procurement centers has been increased from 5000 last year to 6,000 this time.
Despite the onslought of Covid, the Yogi government did not lower the guard at purchase centres and ensured the smooth procurement process.
About 2.98 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have been procured till April 16 as against 18680.50 MT in the previous year (in same period). Until now, 55718 farmers from various districts of the state have benefitted,” said Manish Chauhan, Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies Department.
According to a spokesperson of the state government huge quantity of wheat is being purchased and the procurement process is running smoothly. As of now, around 40842.518 MT of wheat in Shahjahapur, 34241.525 MT in Pilibhit, 17623.377 MT in Aligarh, 12169.37 MT in Sitapur, 13596.20 MT in Bulandsheher and 9830.108 MT in Lakhimpur-Kheri , has been purchased. Nodal Officers are monitoring the entire process of procurement
The spokesperson said that to prevent the farmers from getting infected with the coronavirus, Covid desk has set up at every center. There is a ban on anyone coming without a mask. Farmers not wearing a mask are being provided through this desk. Social Distancing is being followed. The centers are also providing the facility of handwash, water, sanitizer, thermometer and oximeter to keep a check on the spread of coronavirus, he said.
He said that the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has continuously been working in the interest of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh. In fact, he believes that the prosperity of the lstate is directly proportional to the prosperity of the farmers. For benefitting the farmers at the grassroot level, he has introduced new devices and technology, aiding the farmers in receiving the best price of their produce. In this regard, for the first time in the country, the state government has introduced the electronic point of purchase (e-Pop) machines making the concept of middlemen obsolete, while ensuring transparency in the purchase of wheat.
“Uttar Pradesh is arguably the first state in the country to initiate procurement by providing biometric authentication through e-pop device in wheat purchase with the aim of benefiting real farmers and eliminating the role of middlemen and unauthorized persons under the price support scheme” says Manish Chauhan, Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies Department.
How e-Pop device works
Under this arrangement, the authentication of farmers will be done through Biometric verification. All the details linked with the Aadhar card will automatically be available through the verification process. As soon as the procurement process is completed on the e-pop machine, the farmer gets a printed receipt of the total weight of wheat and the value of their wheat on the spot itself. Yogi’s step for bringing transparency in the wheat procurement system and providing receipt through e-pop machines is being welcomed by the farmers.
For this purpose, the state farmers are required to get themselves registered on the portal of Food and Civil supplies department: www.fcs.up.gov.in.
FPOs involved for the first time
There is a need to mention that for the first time in the country, the Yogi-led government has decided to involve Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) in the procurement of wheat. As many as 150 FPOs have been roped in in the state to start with.
It is to be noted that during the past four-years , the state government had made a record payment of Rs 29017.45 crore to more than 33 lakh wheat farmers.
The Yogi government has also made a record of highest ever payment to the paddy and wheat farmers of the state in four years. Even in terms of payment to wheat farmers, the Yogi government has left the previous governments far behind.
