Punjab Prepares for Upcoming Wheat Purchase Season with ₹30,973 Crore Cash Limit

The Punjab government will officially begin wheat procurement from April 1, 2026. The Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs has completed all preparations for the upcoming wheat purchase season to ensure smooth operations. Lal Chand Kataruchak stated that measures are being taken to prevent the sale of wheat from outside states in Punjab markets, with strict instructions issued for border districts. The Cabinet Minister emphasized that the wheat procurement season under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann must proceed without any disruption. DFSC officials have been instructed to personally visit markets and ensure that no shortcomings occur during the procurement process. During a meeting with senior officials of the department, Kataruchak reviewed preparations, instructing that all markets have proper sanitation, electricity, and safe drinking water for farmers and traders. For the month of April, the state has been allocated a cash credit limit of ₹30,973 crore. The procurement target for the state is 12.2 million metric tons (LMT) of wheat, while comprehensive arrangements have been made to purchase up to 13.2 LMT. In this context, 1,897 procurement centers have been notified, and proposals from district-level purchase committees (DLPCs) for an additional 266 ‘Arzi’ yards have been received. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat has been fixed at ₹2,585 per quintal. Addressing logistics, the Cabinet Minister instructed DFSC officials to ensure adequate availability of gunny bags and allocate responsibility to inspectors for proper distribution. Regarding storage facilities, officials were informed that the Chief Minister has raised the issue with the central government to ensure timely availability of storage space for future procurement seasons. DFSC officials have been instructed to maintain continuous communication with their district Deputy Commissioners and keep the headquarters updated on storage arrangements. Furthermore, the Cabinet Minister directed officials to arrange for tarpaulins, wooden crates, and other storage materials at markets. The supply of petrol, diesel, and LPG has been coordinated to ensure uninterrupted operations. The Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs is working with oil marketing companies to maintain supply. Additionally, a state-level control room (0172-2233001) has been set up to monitor supply and address public grievances. District-level committees under Deputy Commissioners have been formed to ensure proper management of petroleum product distribution.