Madhya Pradesh’s Food and Civil Supply Minister, Govind Singh Rajput, announced a successful start to the wheat procurement at Minimum Support Price, with over 22,521 metric tonnes collected from 5,220 farmers in just two days. The procurement initiative kicked off on April 9 in several divisions, with more set to join from April 15, anticipating increased participation.
Minister Rajput expressed satisfaction with the response, noting a record 19.04 lakh farmers registering for wheat procurement this year, showcasing a significant rise from the previous year. He emphasized the farmers’ trust in the government system and assured efforts to facilitate smooth procurement and prompt payment at the Minimum Support Price.
To streamline the process, the state government established 3,171 procurement centers across Madhya Pradesh and introduced a slot booking system to prevent overcrowding at marketplaces. Approximately 1.48 lakh farmers have already booked slots to sell over 6.74 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, with each farmer receiving Rs 2,625 per quintal, inclusive of the Minimum Support Price and a state government bonus.
Provisions for storage and transportation have been diligently arranged, ensuring the availability of adequate gunny bags and secure storage using standard packaging methods. Minister Rajput reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and ensuring a transparent, straightforward, and beneficial procurement process. Despite challenges, the government aims to surpass last year’s procurement of 77 lakh metric tonnes by targeting 78 lakh metric tonnes this year.
