Arrangements made for Rabi procurement

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">CHANDIGARH: Haryana government has made elaborate arrangements for the procurement of Rabi foodgrains which would start arriving in state "mandis" from April 1.<br /><br />Claiming this here on Thursday, a spokesman of the food and supplies department said that this year over 60 lakh metric tonnes of wheat was expected to arrive in the mandis.Wheat would be procured by six agencies, namely food and supplies department, Food Corporation of India, Hafed, Haryana Agro Industries, Confed and Haryana Warehousing Corporation, at the minimum support price of Rs 630 per quintal. Similarly, the minimum support price of other Rabi crops announced by the Central government is barley Rs 525 per quintal, gram Rs 1400 per quintal, and mustard Rs 1600 per quintal. <br /><br />This year, as many as 344 mandis would be operative as against 342 mandis last year. Two new mandis, which would be functional this year, are Matenhail in Jhajjar district and Kirmich in Kurukshetra district.All the heads of procuring agencies have been asked to ensure that all mandis are equipped with basic amenities such as drinking water, electricity, pacca platforms sheds and parking lots. <br /><br />The spokesman said that the state government agencies and Food Corporation of India had arranged gunny bags for storing 65 lakh metric tonnes of wheat. Similarly, sufficient quantity of other material such as polythene covers, tarpaulins, crates and fumigants had been made. <br /><br />In a bid to ensure prompt payment to farmers, a cash credit limit of Rs 3400 crore was being arranged from the Reserve Bank of India. The food and supplies department would have round the clock control rooms both at the state headquarters and the district headquarters. <br /><br />The spokesman said that the farmers were being advised to bring their foodgrains to the market after proper cleaning and as per the norms fixed by the Central government. Foodgrain stocks containing moisture in excess of 14 per cent would be rejected. In case a procuring agency rejects a foodgrain stock, it would be further checked by the incharge of the mandi to ensure that the farmers are not harassed. <br /><br /><formid=367815></formid=367815></div> </div>