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As the purchase of wheat is picking up, the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered sanitisation of cold storages operating in the state and sanitisation of the platforms of the mandis twice a day to protect the farmers coming to sell wheat in the market.
The officials of the Department of Horticulture and Mandi Samiti have issued instructions in this regard.
Director of Horticulture RK Tomar has instructed the departmental officers to sanitise all the 1925 cold storages in the state. "This year more than 160 lakh tons of potatoes have been produced. Out of this about 120 lakh tons has reached cold storages. It is our duty to sanitise the cold storages to ensure safety of all coming there," Tomar said.
"Sanitising the cold storage will not cause any problems in the storage and extraction of potatoes," the official said.
Similarly, wheat is being procured in 220 mandis of the Mandi Samiti. In order to protect the farmers who are transporting wheat to these mandis from getting infected, arrangements have been made to sanitise the platforms of the mandis twice a day. Apart from this, Covid help desk has been set up in every mandi, the official added.
Tomar said that wearing masks was compulsory and farmers not wearing masks were being provided the same by the help desk. "Covid protocol is being followed strictly in the mandi by traders coming to sell vegetables and fruits," he said.
Wheat procurement has started in the state from April 1. So far, a record purchase of about 1.80 lakh metric tons of wheat has been made.