Pilibhit: The district administration has proposed to set up 118 government wheat procurement centres this season. In view of the shoddy performance last season, three purchase agencies have been dropped and only eight will function this year.Pilibhit is a major wheat producing district in the state.For the first time, administration has given priority to procurement from 275 villages located in the eco sensitive zone of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. Steps have been taken to ensure speedy procurement of wheat and avoid any delays by handlers.According to district food and marketing officer Avinash Jha, the wheat procurement will commence from April 1 and conclude on June 15. As against previous year’s minimum support price of Rs 1,635 per quintal, this time, the MSP has been raised by Rs 100, he said.However, the government is yet to announce its procurement policy, said Jha.This year, the administration has engaged eight purchase agencies as against 11 last year. The administration has blacklisted the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited, for failing to make timely payments. State government has dropped UP Sahkari Sangh and National Federation of Farmers’ Procurement Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India Limited, the official said.Earlier, state government had announced to set up 5500 wheat purchase centres as against last year’s 5,106 centers.

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