Over 113 lakh tonnes paddy procured in Punjab

Chandigarh, Oct 31 (UNI) Government agencies and private millers procured more than 113 lakh tonnes of paddy till yesterday.

According to an official spokesman, out of the total procurement of 113.53 lakh tonnes of paddy in all the procurement centres of the state, the government agencies had procured 93.25 lakh tonnes of paddy, which was 82.1 per cent of the total procurement, till date whereas millers had lifted 20.27 lakh tonnes (17.9 percent) of paddy.

Among the state government agencies, Pungrain had procured 23.61 lakh tonnes (25.3 per cent) whereas Markfed procured 22.08 lakh tonnes (23.7 per cent). Punsup procured 23.72 lakh tonnes (25.4 per cent), PSWC procured 12.47 lakh tonnes (13.4 per cent) whereas PAIC was able to procure 10.14 lakh tonnes (10.9 per cent) of paddy.

However, the Central government agency FCI had been able to procure just 1.20 lakh tonnes (1.3 per cent).

The spokesman said that Ludhiana district with 14.95 lakh tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur district with 13.61 lakh tonnes of procurement occupied the second slot and Patiala district with 11.95 lakh tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

The spokesman said the farmers had been paid Rs 5939.17 crores for paddy procured by government agencies alone till October 29.

Different government agencies had been allocated Rs 6641.95 crores to ensure smooth procurement.

UNI