SARGODHA: Additional Commissioner Coordination Saima Younis Sunday said the Sargodha division had set a target of 270,000 metric tonnes of wheat procurement this year.

She was chairing a meeting of the wheat procurement drive in the division here at her office. Deputy commissioners of all four districts and officers of Agriculture and Food departments were also present.

She said that 36 wheat procurement centres would be set up in districts in which 13 procurement centres had been set up in Sargodha, three in Khushab, six in Mianwali and 14 in Bhakkar district.

Director Agriculture Faiz Ahmed Kundi informed the meeting that this year wheat had been cultivated on an area of 1.766 million acres in the division, and the production was expected to be 27-maund per acre.

Deputy Director Food Dr Zia-ul-Haq told the meeting that in the division, 257,950 metric tons of polypropylene (PP) bags and 50,250 metric tons of jute bags would be required this year and at present the Food Department has 15% of gunny bags.

The meeting was informed that 7 inter-district check-posts had been set up in all districts to check illegal transportation of wheat where staff duties had also been assigned.

Saima Younis ordered for holding meetings of farmers for sale of wheat at the government centers and also to ensure early steps for training of field staff and coordinators.