Principal Secretary food & civil supplies reviews the paddy procurement arrangements

To ensure procurement of every grain of farmers, Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, K. Siva Prasad today reviewed the ongoing preparations for Kharif Season 2020-21 today in a meeting at Anaj Bhawan, Sector-39 here. GM FCI Mr. Arshdeep Singh, MD Markfed Mr. Varun Roozam, Director Food and Civil Supplies-cum-MD Pungrain Mrs. Anindita Mitra, MD Punjab Agro Food Corporation Manjit Singh Brar, MD of PUNSUP Dilraj Singh, AMD Punjab State Warehousing Corporation Yashanjit Singh and Deputy Director Mandi Board H.S. Brar were also present in the meeting.During the meeting, Mr. K. Prasad thoroughly evaluates the delivery of pending rice of Kharif Season 2019-20 and directed all the agencies to clear the supply of outstanding stock by July 31. Principal Secretary also reviewed the preparations being made for Kharif season 2020-21. He said that the biggest challenge for us during the procurement season would be to ensure the health and safety of the farmers, officials/employees of government procurement agencies, arthiyas, laborers and drivers due to COVID-19. He exhorted that the better arrangements should be put in place in future in comparison with wheat procurement.The Managing Directors of all the procurement agencies assured that proper arrangements would be take place for paddy procurement as per the instructions of Punjab Health Department to further check the spreading of COVID-19.