Chandigarh, April 2: Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Saturday informed that Kashmir Singh, hailing from a Patiala village, became the first farmer in the state to receive Minimum Support Price (MSP) payment. Kashmir Singh had brought 51 quintals of wheat to Rajpura Mandi on March 31 and it was cleaned and purchased on the very first day of procurement (April 1), he said and added that within 24 hours of purchase, the department transferred payment to the Mohabbatpur village farmer.
The amount of Rs 1,02,765, was directly put into his bank account. Responding to a question regarding arrangements of transport and labour, the Minister in the newly-formed AAP government said that it was for the first time that all labour and transport contracts had been completed well before the start of the season. This has ensured that all Mandis across the state were in a state of readiness, with adequate labour and trucks. Regarding the slow pace of arrival of wheat in the Mandis, he said that the crop has not ripened yet and was expected to start reaching Mandis in the Malwa area in significant quantities after April 6, while the Majha districts will probably see the arrivals pick up after April 12.
Kataruchak said the farmers are upbeat due to expectations of a good harvest and the Bhagwant Mann Government “will leave no stone unturned in buying every grain that is offered for sale by the farmers”. UNI
