Bhopal, April 25 Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday held a comprehensive review of wheat and gram procurement arrangements in Raisen district, covering all four districts of his parliamentary constituency, Vidisha.
The meeting focused on ensuring transparency, timely procurement, and making the system more convenient for farmers during the ongoing rabi marketing season.
Chouhan said the government’s priority is to ensure that no farmer faces any difficulty in selling produce.
He said they have only one resolve, that farmers should not face any inconvenience, and added that the government is not doing them any favour but is indebted to them for making the country self-reliant in wheat.
The Minister issued clear instructions to streamline the slot booking system, ensure adequate availability of gunny bags, and strengthen basic arrangements at procurement centres.
He warned that negligence at any level would not be tolerated and called for strict vigilance to prevent irregularities.
He also stressed that procurement must be done only from genuine farmers and that they should be assured that their produce will be purchased without delay.
Highlighting the need for close monitoring, Chouhan asked officials to regularly review procurement targets, progress, the number of centres, and on-the-ground infrastructure.
He directed that additional procurement centres be opened wherever required to avoid overcrowding and ensure smooth operations, particularly in high-production areas.
In Vidisha district, officials informed that over 81,000 farmers have registered, with around 45,000 completing slot bookings so far.
Procurement has reached about 1.17 lakh metric tonnes against a target of 5 lakh metric tonnes.
Taking note of the gap, Chouhan instructed officials to speed up procurement, resolve server-related issues, and address delays in payments to farmers.
In Raisen, procurement is progressing steadily, with around 30,000 farmers completing slot bookings and over 21,000 farmers having sold their produce so far.
Chouhan also flagged complaints related to surveyors and directed strict action in verified cases.
He asked officials to immediately inform district collectors of any irregularities and ensure accountability at all levels.
Reiterating his commitment, the Union Minister said that procurement must continue without disruption under all circumstances.
He said that if any issue arises, decisions should be taken immediately to strengthen the system, and added that he is available 24 hours a day to assist.
--IANS
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