Bhopal/Ujjain: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav made a surprise visit to a wheat procurement centre in Ujjain on Monday, reinforcing the state government’s focus on strengthening procurement operations and farmer welfare. During the inspection, he directed officials to expand warehouse storage capacity to safeguard procured wheat from unseasonal rains.
Surprise Inspection at Nagjhiri Procurement Centre
The Chief Minister visited the Adani Agro Silo procurement centre at Nagjhiri in Ujjain, which is operated by the Datana Service Cooperative Society. Reviewing on-ground arrangements, he interacted with officials and assessed the functioning of procurement processes.
The visit comes shortly after his statement that he could conduct surprise inspections at any procurement centre across the state, underlining the government’s proactive monitoring approach.
Directive to Expand Warehouse Capacity
During the inspection, CM Yadav issued key directives to enhance infrastructure at the centre. He specifically ordered the expansion of warehouse storage capacity, emphasizing that the move would help protect procured wheat from adverse weather conditions, particularly unseasonal rains.
Officials were instructed to ensure that storage facilities are strengthened to handle increasing procurement volumes efficiently.
Continuous Monitoring of Procurement Process
Highlighting the government’s active involvement, the Chief Minister stated that wheat procurement across the state is progressing smoothly. He noted that slot-booking timelines had been extended earlier to facilitate farmers and ensure seamless participation.
“We have been informed that procurement is proceeding normally across the state. However, these surprise visits are meant to demonstrate our commitment and concern for farmers,” he said.
He also confirmed that payments to farmers are being made within seven days, while transportation of procured wheat is ongoing without disruption.
Enhanced Facilities for Farmers
CM Yadav emphasised that the government is taking multiple steps to improve the procurement ecosystem. These include:
- Increasing the number of weighing scales at procurement centres
- Strengthening logistics and transportation systems
- Expanding infrastructure to avoid delays and inconvenience
He reiterated that farmers should not face any difficulty during the procurement process and urged officials to remain responsive.
‘Farmers’ Welfare Year’ Focus
The Chief Minister highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is observing this year as ‘Farmers’ Welfare Year’, with a strong focus on improving agricultural support systems.
“Our effort is to ensure that farmers receive every possible facility and support,” he said.
Procurement Figures and Ongoing Operations
Providing an update on procurement, CM Yadav stated that the government has already procured around 4.1 million metric tonnes of wheat and has the capacity to further increase the volume.
He urged farmers to actively participate by bringing their produce to nearby procurement centres and assured them that:
- District administrations are fully prepared
- Control rooms have been set up for grievance redressal
- Daily monitoring of procurement is being carried out
In addition to wheat, the procurement of gram and lentils is also underway across the state.
Previous Surprise Visits
Notably, this is not the first such inspection by the Chief Minister. Prior to the Ujjain visit, he had conducted surprise inspections in Shajapur and Khargone, indicating a sustained effort to closely monitor procurement activities across districts.
Conclusion
The surprise visit by CM Mohan Yadav underscores the Madhya Pradesh government’s focus on efficient procurement, farmer welfare, and infrastructure strengthening. The decision to expand warehouse capacity is expected to play a crucial role in protecting produce and ensuring smooth operations during the ongoing procurement season.
