The wheat procurement in the state has surpassed the last years level by 30 per cent. Four new centres have been opened to purchase wheat from farmers after strict restrictions were announced by Punjab and Haryana in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
Around 4,500 MT of wheat has been procured against the total of 3,100 MT last year. The procurement will continue for one month.
The (Fci) has procured wheat for Rs 1,975 per quintal, benefiting 1,124 farmers.
The centres are opened in Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb (Sirmaur), Kanger and Takrala (Una), Fatehpur and Thakurdwara (Kangra) Nalagarh (Solan) and Patta (Bilaspur) from farmers, who were unable to sell their produce in the neighbouring states.
Wheat produced in the Paonta valley is known for its quality but the farmers were either dependent on middlemen or travelled to the markets in Punjab and Haryana to sell their produce at throwaway prices.