2 wheat procurement centers were started in Una district

Two wheat procurement centres have been opened in Una district where farmers can sell their produce. This was stated by Deputy Commissioner Raghav Sharma after presiding over a meeting to address the farmers’ issue regarding sale of surplus wheat produce.

Raghav Sharma said that the procurement centres had been opened at Rampur village in Una sub division and Takarla village in Amb sub division and farmers would not have to transport their produce to Punjab. He informed that farmers, who wish to sell their produce at these centres, will have to get themselves registered on the website http://hpappp.nic.in.

Further, the DC informed that the farmers would also be given a slot to bring their produce at these centres so that they do not have to wait in queues for their turn. The registration and online booking of the slots for selling wheat at these centres has been initiated from April 5. He informed that the farmers can either login on the website themselves or can get the facility at the Lok Mitra Kendras on a payment of Rs 30.

Raghav Sharma said bulk purchase of wheat from farmers by private businessmen would have to be routed through Una Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) under valid licence and if any businessman was found flouting these norms, action under Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Horticulture Produce Marketing Act, 2005, would be initiated against the person.

Secretary APMC, Bhupinder Singh, informed that 19 mechanical sieving machines have been installed at the two procurement centres to segregate low and good quality wheat, adding that two wheat cleaning machines, each having a capacity of 10 metric tons per hour, are being installed at a cost of Rs 40 lakh.

Regional Manager of the HP State Civil Supplies Corporation, Sanjeev Verma said the sales proceeds would be credited into the bank account of farmers by the corporation within 48 hours of the procurement.

The minimum support price of wheat had been fixed by the government at Rs 2,125 per quintal, he said.