Punjab wheat procurement halted as commission agents strike over 2.5%
India
Wheat buying in Punjab has hit pause because arhtiyas (commission agents) are on strike.
They're asking for their 2.5% commission back and want ₹55 crore refunded, which the Food Corporation of India deducted for employee funds.
They're also unhappy about lower commissions for storing wheat in silos.
Punjab requests 860 special wheat trains
Punjab is expecting a big wheat harvest, about 122 lakh tons, but recent rains might slow things down.
With storage space running out fast, the state has asked for 860 special trains to move 22 lakh tons of wheat in April and May.
The government is also pushing out food grains early to help free up space.