In a big relief to the farmers, Centre relaxes wheat procurement norms in Punjab and Chandigarh

Chandigarh: In a major relief to the farmers in the event of damage to the wheat crop due to rain, hailstorm and strong winds in Punjab, the Central Government has relaxed specifications for wheat procurement in Punjab and Chandigarh.

   The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has written a letter to the Punjab government stating that it will procure all the wheat coming to the mandis.
    According to the order issued, in case of poor quality, Rs 5.31 to 31.87 per quintal will be deducted. The Punjab government had appealed to the Centre not to make any cuts.
    In Punjab, 14.57 lakh hectares of standing crop has been affected. Now the Government of India has said that up to 10 percent of the MSP of bad wheat will be increased. There will be no deduction.
    There will be a cut of Rs 5.31 per quintal on 10 to 80 per cent of the bad food grains. According to reports, 35 to 80 per cent of the wheat in Punjab has been damaged. Similarly, if the grain is damaged by up to 6 per cent, then there will be no deduction, but if the grain shrinks or breaks by 6 to 8 per cent, then there will be a reduction of Rs 5.31 per quintal.
There will be a reduction of Rs 10.62 on 8 to 10 per cent shrunken or broken foodgrains, Rs 26.66 on 15 to 16 per cent and 31.87 per cent on breaking or shrinking of 16 to 18 per cent grains. According to reports, 15 to 18 per cent of the wheat straw in Punjab has been damaged.