DW BUREAU / LUDHIANA With cent percent wheat procurement and 70 percent payments cleared already to the farmers, the district administration has been ensuring a smooth and hassle-free wheat procurement season. As per the details available regarding the ongoing Rabi marketing season, the procurement agencies had procured 644592 metric ton (MT) of wheat out of 6,44,900 MT wheat arrived in the grain markets/purchase centres this year till April 24. In the last 72-hours, the procurement agencies had lifted 62 percent of the stock and the process was being expedited as warning was already issued to the officials for any kind of undue delay. Divulging more details, Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma reiterated that on the directions of the state government, the administration was firmly committed to completing the procurement season without any inconvenience to the farmers. He said that the thrust had also been laid on the spot procurement of the golden grain so that farmers do not have to wait for the buyer in the markets.He said that agencies had also made payments worth Rs 773.61 crore to the peasantry so far. He added that the Punjab government was committed to lifting every single grain of the farmers in the grain markets. Sharma said that a robust mechanism had been put in place to make sure that grain was procured and lifted as soon as it had come into the grain markets/purchase centres and told that the officers/ officials had been directed to ensure daily field visits to inspect the ongoing procurement operations and facilitate the farmers. Deputy Commissioner said the Ludhiana administration had expected the arrival of around 9 lakh MT wheat in the grain markets /purchase centres this year and strict adherence to the Covid protocols including wearing of masks, social distancing, frequently washing hands and others were being ensured to keep the season free of Covid. Meanwhile, on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma, the Food Supply teams led by District Food and Supply Controller visited the grain markets on Sunday to ensure prompt purchase and seamless lifting. DFSC Sukhwinder Singh Gill took stock of the various grain markets including Maherna Kalan and Latala grain markets and interacted with the farmers. (editor@dailyworld.in)