Bhopal, May 17: As much as 15.28 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has been procured on support price from farmers in Madhya Pradesh by government agencies so far. In the wake of procurement by state Civil Supplies Corporation at the rate of Rs 1000 support price and Rs 100 bonus per quintal, farmers have received Rs 760 crore four lakh 24 thousand. This year's procurement of wheat on support price is 32 times more than the total procurement during the last year which stood at only 47000 metric tonnes during the Rabi season.

Hoshangabad district has topped as far as procurement of wheat on support price is concerned. Till last Monday, 1,79,234 metric tonnes of wheat was procured there and farmers were paid Rs 136.78 crore. Record procurement has also been made in other districts.

Madhya Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation had started procurement of wheat on support price since March 1. The corporation has made arrangements for procurement at 926 procurement centres with the co-operation of co-operative societies. Arrangements for direct procurement from farmers have also been made at selected Mandis of the state. The Union government has fixed Rs 1000 per quintal as the support price and the state government has announced a bonus on every quintal of wheat. In this way, farmers are being paid at the rate of Rs 1100 per quintal. Apart from the corporation, Food Corporation of India and MARKFED are also procuring wheat.

Madhya Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation has made concerted arrangements for payments to farmers, gunny bags and storage of procured wheat which would be distributed through public distribution shops under various schemes.