CHANDIGARH: The Union Minister of state for food Tarun Gogoi conceded that the farmers week long boycott of grain markets had adversely affected procurement of wheat from the state but was hopeful that the state would achieve its target of 55 lakh tons.
He told newsmen here that there were no plans to import wheat. “We will do so only as a last resort and it will depend on the level of procurement” he said.
Gogoi who was here for a day reviewed the procurement situation at a high level meeting with the Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and senior procurement officials.
Gogoi said the Union government faced a shortage of 1.7 million tons as of April 1 He claimed that no procurement target had been fixed at the national level.
The chief minister who was also present at the press conference ruled out seeking royalty on wheat. However he had requested the Center to waive the states debt in view of the “monumental” expenditure involved in fighting terrorism. He said his government had demanded more sugar diesel petrol kerosene palm oil and other inputs.
Citing statistics Gogoi claimed that the state government had procured 34.62 lakh tons of wheat. This was lower than the 44.5 lakh tons procured in the corresponding period last year The Punjab minister for food and supplies Rajinder Kaur Bhattal who was also present at the press conference said the daily arrival of wheat was assured 1.80 lakh tons. Even during the boycott week from May 1 the government had procured about three lakh tons.
Beant Singh said the BKUs boycott call had an adverse impact only in Ludhiana Patiala and Sungrur districts and procurement had been almost normal in other parts of the state. He ascribed the low arrivals to late crop rains and holidays.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 29, 1992
