Ensure Farmers Face No Hardship in Wheat Procurement: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has announced that, in the interest of farmers, the wheat procurement target has been increased from 7.8 million metric tonnes to 10 million metric tonnes. Slot booking has now been extended to include small and marginal farmers as well as medium and large farmers. The capacity of procurement centres has been increased from 1,000 to 2,250 quintals per day, and the slot booking deadline has been extended from April 30 to May 9. These decisions are expected to significantly increase arrivals at procurement centres, and the Chief Minister has directed Collectors to ensure adequate arrangements in their respective districts accordingly.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav emphasised that farmers coming to mandis to sell their produce must be provided with all essential facilities and should not face any inconvenience. He instructed that arrangements such as weighing machines, labourers, shade and drinking water be ensured at procurement centres. All Collectors have been directed to conduct daily reviews of wheat procurement, transportation, storage, and farmer payments. Procurement of gram and lentil should be carried out under mandi sheds to prevent losses due to unseasonal rains. The Chief Minister also instructed district administrations to ensure wide publicity regarding procurement arrangements for gram and lentil.

These directions were issued during a video conference held at Samatva Bhavan (Chief Minister’s Residence) to review wheat procurement across the state. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the wheat procurement target to 10 million metric tonnes.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav stated that adequate arrangements of gunny bags have been made across the state. Each procurement centre must ensure the availability of gunny bags sufficient for seven days of procurement. A minimum of six electronic weighing machines must be installed at each centre, and procurement should strictly adhere to prescribed standards. In addition to procurement centres, continuous monitoring of produce sales in mandis should also be ensured to prevent any inconvenience to farmers. The Chief Minister also interacted virtually with Collectors of Guna, Raisen, Datia, Sidhi, and Vidisha to review district-level arrangements.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was informed during the review that 516 procurement centres are operational across the state, 8.55 lakh farmers have registered through slot booking, and procurement from 3.96 lakh farmers has reached 1.66 million metric tonnes of wheat. These decisions are expected to significantly increase arrivals at procurement centres, and the Chief Minister has directed Collectors to ensure adequate arrangements in their respective districts accordingly. Payments of over ₹2,527 crore have been made to farmers and 40,457 medium and large farmers have booked slots for 5.88 lakh metric tonnes. Farmers have been given the flexibility to sell their produce at any procurement centre within the district, instead of being restricted to their tehsil.

The Government of India has provided relaxation in procurement norms, including: Up to 50% relaxation in the limit for lustreless wheat, an increase in the limit for shrivelled grains from 6% to 10% and increase in the permissible limit for damaged grains by 6%.

Agriculture Minister Shri Edal Singh Kansana, Cooperation Minister Shri Vishvas Sarang, Chief Secretary Shri Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Shri Neeraj Mandloi, Agriculture Production Commissioner Shri Ashok Barnwal, along with Principal Secretaries of concerned departments and other officials, were present at the meeting.