Group of Ministers comprehensively reviews arrangements for upcoming Wheat procurement season
Welfare of all stakeholders must be ensured for a hassle free season: GoM to officials
Storage space issue taken up emphatically with Union Government
Chandigarh, February 25 (WISHAVWARTA);-The Group of Ministers (GoM) comprising Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal and Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, constituted to oversee procurement preparations today held a meeting to comprehensively review the upcoming Wheat procurement season 2026 – 27.
The GoM was apprised that the Wheat procurement season is likely to commence from April 1st and the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department would procure approximately 132 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of the produce. Further, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) has been fixed at Rs. 2585 Per Quintal.
With regard to the issue of the storage space, it was brought to the notice of the Group of Ministers that the FCI is moving 5 LMT of Wheat and 5 LMT of Rice every month since August 2025 till now whereas to ensure adequate storage space for Wheat to be procured in 2026-27 season, a minimum of 15 LMT movement of wheat each month is needed. The Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has emphatically taken up the issue with the Union Government at regular intervals as well as recently also in this regard.
Further, in order to ensure safe storage of Wheat with respect to the upcoming season, the department is contemplating constructing plinths and using empty spaces in the rice mills. Besides, regular review of procurement arrangements is being undertaken with the District Administrations. The DFSCs are coordinating with the District Managers of the FCI to prepare contingency plans and alternate arrangements.
As regards the other items necessary to to ensure a seamless procurement season, orders have been issued for 391320 plastic crates out of which 231055 have been received while the rest would be received by March. Also, orders have been placed for 675000 wooden crates supply and requisite LPED Covers necessary for safely storing wheat are also available.
It was further brought to the attention of the Group of Ministers regarding demand of the arhtiyas to raise their rates of Commission from Rs. 45 per quintal to Rs. 64 per quintal that the matter is being taken up by the State Government with the Union Government at every given opportunity.
Reiterating the commitment of the State Government to the welfare of every stakeholder connected with the procurement process, the Group of Ministers directed the officials to ensure a hassle free and unhindered season with transparency at every step.
Among others present on the occasion included the Principal Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rahul Tewari, Director Varinder Kumar Sharma, Additional Directors Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar and Ajayveer Singh Sarao, and GM Finance Sarvesh Kumar.
