PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa meals division has bought round 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat from growers within the province within the first section of the continuing procurement drive.
Final month, the provincial authorities announced that it might procure 300,000 tonnes of wheat from the native farmers.
A senior authorities official informed Daybreak that the meals division had determined to buy wheat from native growers within the first 10 days of the procurement drive.
He mentioned that within the first section, the division had managed to buy round 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat from a number of districts of the province.
The official mentioned that wheat procurement would proceed till Might 20 in different districts the place the harvesting started late.
Official says Punjab farmers may provide grain in second section
He mentioned that within the second section, the procurement drive can be open to all growers.
“All growers, together with these from our province in addition to Punjab, can promote their wheat to our authorities. It will occur on a first-come, first-served foundation,” he mentioned.
The official, nonetheless, mentioned that the meals division’s groups wouldn’t go to Punjab to buy wheat from its growers, which must transport the staple grain to the procurement centres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by themselves.
“We’re solely going to pay them the official wheat charge of Rs3,900 per 40 kilogrammes,” he mentioned.
The official mentioned that the KP authorities wouldn’t bear any prices associated to transportation, loading or unloading, or every other bills related to the procurement of wheat.
He mentioned that the procurement drive would proceed till June 30, or the completion of the acquisition of 300,000 tonnes of wheat.
In the meantime, the provincial authorities has mentioned it has taken a number of steps to make sure transparency within the train of wheat procurement.
Digital apps and cameras are getting used to observe the wheat procurement course of throughout the province, in keeping with an official assertion issued by the meals division.
It added that that the meals division was utilizing the coverage of first come, first served to make sure equity within the course of, whereas customary working procedures had been outlined to information the wheat procurement course of.
The division mentioned {that a} multi-layer monitoring mechanism had additionally been devised to stop irregularities within the wheat procurement course of.
It added that digital moisture meters have been getting used to test wheat high quality within the presence of suppliers and a notified committee.
“Equally, acceptance and rejection certificates have been generated by way of the app and signed by all committee members through the course of,” it mentioned.
Within the assertion, the division mentioned that through the procurement course of, the standing of each centre was printed day by day for the folks and farmers.
“The federal government has additionally taken strict motion towards violations, suspending three officers within the final 10 days. As well as, to facilitate the procurement course of, directions have been issued to supply amenities equivalent to consuming water and correct car administration, guaranteeing a first-come, first-served situation,” it mentioned.
The division mentioned the meals secretary and monitoring groups have been actively visiting facilities day by day to supervise the method of wheat procurement.
“This drive goals to make sure a clean and clear wheat procurement course of, benefiting farmers and the general public in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” it mentioned within the official assertion.
Revealed in Daybreak, Might 18th, 2024