Wheat procurement operations in Punjab to continue till May 31

The Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Lal Chand Kataruchak has ordered the continuation of wheat procurement operations in 232 Mandis in the State till May 31.

This announcement was made after carefully examining the ramifications of the recent decision of the Union Ministry of Commerce to restrict exports of wheat, informed the Information and Public Relations Department of Punjab on Sunday.

Sharing these details with media persons, the Food Minister said, "the restrictions on wheat export is likely to result in a dip in the prices of wheat in the domestic market. As a result, some farmers who had stored the wheat produce, in anticipation of fetching higher prices later, might have a rethink now and opt to sell the wheat." Therefore, it was important that the facility of government purchase at MSP continues to be available to them in order to avoid distress sale, he said.