LAHORE : The Punjab food department has been assigned a wheat procurement target of 3.5 million tonnes for year 2014. The target can be increased up to 15% keeping in view better output of the crop, a senior official of the department told APP here on Saturday. It is expected that wheat harvest would surpass the estimated target of 19 million tonnes this year and that is the reason the government is considering the option of increasing the procurement target, he said. He said the department had worked out all important tasks regarding procurement like purchase of gunny bags and it was ready to start procurement in time.
He said that proper arrangements would be made at procurement centres to facilitate farmers. Farmers will be provided with Bardana without any discrimination and favour, he said.
He said that toll free numbers would be given where senior officials of the government would redress problems of farmers.
The official said that more than half a million tonne wheat was still in stock.