Untimely rain has slowed down wheat procurement: Pannu

Expressing concern over untimely and intermittent rain in the past few days, Kahan Singh Pannu, additional principal secretary to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, today said that the downpour was a reason behind slow lifting of the purchased wheat across grain markets in the region.

Expressing concern over untimely and intermittent rain in the past few days, Kahan Singh Pannu, additional principal secretary to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, said on Thursday the downpour was a reason behind slow lifting of the purchased wheat across grain markets in the region.

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"Increased moisture content in the wheat grains due to rain made purchasing agencies and commission agents slow down the lifting process. The farmers should not panic as lifting would gain momentum in the coming days," said Pannu on his visit to the grain markets at Nabha and Bhadson on Thursday.

In Nabha, farmers and commission agents rued acute shortage of wheat bags resulting in damage to grains during the rains, and thus Pannu instructed officials of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to provide "sufficient stock of gunny bags", said a press release issued here.

Pannu also claimed that payments to the farmers were made on time as the government had "strictly informed" purchase agencies and commission agents not to delay the payments.