SRINAGAR: With the wheat harvesting season around the corner, the Directorate of Agriculture today held a high-level meeting to finalise arrangements for wheat procurement in Jammu Division for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2025-26. Director Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare, Arvinder Singh Reen, chaired the meeting and stressed the need for seamless procurement operations to ensure farmers receive the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,425 per quintal.
Highlighting the importance of direct procurement through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, Reen said that the process must be executed in a time-bound and farmer-friendly manner. He underscored the critical role of procurement centres in preventing distress sales and safeguarding farmer incomes.
A total of 21 wheat procurement mandis will be set up across Jammu Division—11 in Jammu district, nine in Kathua, and one in Samba. These centres will be equipped with all required infrastructure including storage space, gunny bags, tarpaulin sheets, and transport facilities. Reen instructed the Agriculture Department to support procurement operations by making tarpaulin sheets available and called upon the Deputy Commissioners to fix cleaning charges for the produce.
The meeting reviewed the selection of procurement centre sites based on feasibility and ease of access. It also covered key operational matters such as the appointment of MLCs and DNOs, engagement of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), crop condition assessment, and timelines for expected wheat arrivals. Payment mechanisms and supply of packaging materials were also deliberated.
Reen directed that farmers must be widely informed about the procurement process to ensure broad participation and maximise benefits. FCI officers present in the meeting assured that they would remain ready to receive wheat stocks until May 31, 2025, with the possibility of extending the deadline if necessary.
Satish Sharma, Joint Director Agriculture (Extension/SLUB), Parveen Kumar Gautam, Divisional Manager FCI, Santosh Kumar, AGM (Procurement) FCI, Mukesh Verma, Manager (Procurement) ECI, and Dharmesh Vaid, Liaison Officer Marketing/SMS RL were among the key officials present. Chief Agriculture Officers and representatives from FPOs across the division also attended the meeting virtually.
