J&K: 21 wheat procurement centres being set up in Jammu

IANS April 9, 2025 177 views

The Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Department is preparing for the upcoming Rabi Marketing Season by establishing 21 wheat procurement centres across the Jammu Division. These centres aim to prevent distress sales and ensure farmers receive the Minimum Support Price of Rs 2,425 per quintal through a direct benefit transfer mechanism. The Food Corporation of India will manage the procurement process, with centres strategically placed to maximize farmer accessibility. The initiative reflects the government's commitment to supporting agricultural communities and ensuring fair compensation for their produce.

"We will ensure smooth and timely procurement through direct benefit transfer" - Director of Agriculture
Jammu, April 8,: In view of the approaching harvesting season, a meeting was held on Tuesday at the Directorate of Agriculture with Director Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare which aimed to thoroughly review and finalise the arrangements for the procurement of wheat produce for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2025-26.

Key Points

1

- 21 wheat procurement centres planned across Jammu Division

2

11 centres in Jammu district, 9 in Kathua, 1 in Samba

3

FCI to manage procurement process

An official statement said that the Director of Agriculture emphasised the importance of streamlining wheat procurement operations, particularly focusing on ensuring a smooth and timely process through direct procurement from farmers by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.

The Director highlighted that the establishment of procurement centres is crucial to prevent distress sale of wheat by farmers and to ensure they receive the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,425 per quintal, as notified by the Ministry of Agriculture, Production and Farmers Welfare.

An official said that the meeting held detailed discussions on the strategic selection and finalisation of procurement centre sites, taking into account the feasibility and accessibility for farmers.

He said that it was announced that a total of 21 wheat procurement centres (Mandis) will be established across Jammu Division, including 11 in Jammu district, nine in Kathua, and one in Samba.

He further informed that emphasis was placed on providing necessary infrastructure, including space, gunny bags, logistical support, and other essential resources, to effectively set up the procurement mandis.

"Key agenda points discussed included Uploading of specifications and appointment of MLCs and DNOs, Engagement of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the procurement process, Identification and readiness of procurement centres, Current crop conditions and expected wheat arrival timelines, Payment streamlining and arrangements for gunny bags," he said.

He said that the Director urged that the cleaning charges be fixed by the Deputy Commissioners and directed that the Agriculture Department will support the availability of tarpaulin sheets for procurement operations.

He further encouraged widespread dissemination of information among farmers to ensure maximum participation in the procurement process.

The FCI officers assured that they would be ready to receive wheat stocks until May 31, 2025, with the provision of extending the deadline if needed.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is great news for our farmers! Setting up procurement centers will definitely help them get fair prices for their hard work. Hope the implementation is as smooth as planned 🙏
P
Priya M.
Finally some concrete steps to support our farmers! The MSP assurance is crucial, but I wonder how they'll ensure all farmers, especially small ones, can access these centers easily?
S
Sunil T.
While the initiative is good, I hope they've considered proper storage facilities too. Last year many farmers faced issues with delayed payments and grain quality checks. The system needs more transparency.
A
Anjali R.
My uncle is a wheat farmer in Kathua. He'll be so relieved to hear this! The distress sales last season were heartbreaking. Hope this brings real change 💛
V
Vikram J.
Good move, but 21 centers for entire Jammu division seems inadequate. The article mentions 11 in Jammu, 9 in Kathua and just 1 in Samba? Samba farmers might have to travel long distances.
N
Neha P.
The inclusion of FPOs is a smart decision! Collective bargaining will give farmers better leverage. Hope they conduct proper awareness campaigns in villages about the DBT process.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Wheat Procurement Jammu and Kashmir Agricultural Support Farmer Welfare Food Corporation of India Minimum Support Price
You May Like!