May 2020, South Asia

Wheat procurement in Punjab reached the 100-lakh tonne mark on Tuesday since the produce started arriving in the state’s grain markets on April 15, even as there were apprehensions amid the ongoing lockdown in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak that necessitated following of social-distancing norms.

With 4.74 lakh tonne wheat reaching the mandis on Tuesday, the cumulative arrival so far is 101 lakh tonne and purchase 99.67 lakh tonne.

Despite certain glitches in the operations, the state departments of food and civil supplies, and agriculture call it a successful operation carried out in a better manner than the previous rabi procurement seasons. Senior officials say if all goes well the procurement will be over in 10 days from now, as compared to the last year when the operations continued till May 28.