Punjab: With barely two days to go before wheat procurement begins in India’s bread-basket state of Punjab, the Captain Amarinder Singh-led state government has taken several measures to ensure “not a single grain of wheat is left behind” while observing “social distancing” norms to check the spread of coronavirus disease.
“We have made all the arrangements for our officials and workers. The harvest will be available at the mandi from April 15. We have made all necessary arrangements. We won’t leave behind a single grain of wheat,” said Singh in a video message to the state.
While elaborating on the changes made in the procurement process, Singh said, “we had to make a few changes in our (procurement) policy because of the outbreak of coronavirus disease. Earlier the farmers would reach the mandis with trolleys full of harvested wheat but this time we had to distribute passes in each village, and the farmers will have to reach the mandi as per the time and date mentioned in their respective passes.”
“The reason being that we don’t want the mandis to be overcrowded as this disease spreads faster among gatherings,” added the Chief Minister.
Punjab’s wheat procurement exercise is Asia’s largest, which usually begins in the first week of April and continues for about a month, and is one of the most significant annual exercises undertaken by the government.
This time around the state is all set to procure a bumper yield of 137 lakh metric tonnes, worth Rs 26,000 crore, with the harvesting and procurement process beginning April 15 and continuing till May 31, with a provision of extension till June 15 - an extended date keeping in view the outbreak of COVID-19.
As per Additional Chief Secretary Development Viswajeet Khanna of the 137 lakh MT of wheat expected to arrive in the mandis, 135 lakh MT would be purchased by government agencies while 2 lakh MT is likely to be bought by private traders.
Khanna said that the Centre has fixed the MSP of wheat at Rs 1925 per quintal for the current RMS against Rs 1840 MSP fixed last year
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The Centre has approved Cash Credit Limit of Rs. 22,900 crore to ensure prompt and seamless procurement operations in the state. A 30-member control room has been set up in the Mandi Board head office and in each of the designated purchase agencies to meticulously coordinate procurement operations and logistics with each district 24X7.
Coupons
To avoid huge gatherings at the mandis, a coupon system has been introduced for farmers. Farmers will be given hologram fixed coupons. With each coupon, a farmer will be entitled to bring one trolley of about 50 to 70 quintals of wheat. A farmer shall be entitled to take multiple coupons each day or on different days depending on space in the purchase centre to avoid the rush in the mandis.
About 27 lakh such coupons would be issued by market committees to Arthiyas.
Hygiene and social distancing
In a bid to observe necessary safety and sanitary protocols to curb the spread of coronavirus, observance of social distancing norms, wearing of masks and use of sanitisers will be ensured.
Mandi yards are being marked with 30×30 feet lines to accommodate a heap of about 50 quintals and maintain sufficient distance from the adjoining one.
Provision for clean drinking water, fumigation, cleaning and disinfection of Mandis and Mandi yards is being ensured. Over one lakh masks and 25,000 litres of sanitiser will be made available in each of these purchase centres.
Police deployment
Around 10,000 policemen will be deployed at the mandis to ensure social distancing and maintenance of law and order.
Punjab has recorded a total of 170 cases of COVID-19 with 23 cured and 12 deaths as on April 12, 2020.
