Lucknow, 12 April (HS) : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is seen in direct command to control the Covid menace again. He issued many directions which included the proper arrangements at the wheat procurement centres and to ensure a smooth and transparent purchase process from the farmers while maintaining Covid protocol.
In pursuance to his directions, the wheat purchase has been going on at about 6000 purchase centres across the state and as much as one lakh MT of wheat had already been purchased from 17440 farmers till April 12 since the procurement commenced on April one last. Despite the fresh Covid scare the, foolproof arrangements have been ensured at the wheat purchase centres with all aspects of Covid protocol being followed in to to.
CM has instructed to create all the facilities for farmers
According to a spokesperson of the state government CM Yogi has continuously been working in the interest of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh. With an aim to double the income of the farmers, he introduced new devices and technology so that the farmers may receive 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. The first procurement of wheat through e-Pop machine was successfully carried out at Kundarki purchase center of Moradabad district on April 7. The procurement of wheat through e-pop machines will start at various other purchase centres in the state soon.
MSP for wheat increased
In Rabi marketing year 2021-22, procurement of wheat directly from farmers under the Minimum Support Price Scheme commenced on April one, 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 increased from 5000 last year to 6,000 this time.
Role of FPOs in the wheat procurement for the first time
The spokesperson said 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.
He said 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 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, he added.
