Over 126 lakh tonnes paddy procured in Punjab

Chandigarh, Nov 23 (UNI) Six government agencies and private millers have procured more than 126 lakh tonnes of Paddy in Punjab.

According to an official spokesman, out of the total procurement of 126.34 lakh tonnes of Paddy in all the procurement centres of the state, the government agencies had procured 103.08 lakh tonnes of paddy, which was 81.6 per cent of total procurement till date whereas millers had lifted 23.25 lakh tonnes (18.4 %) of paddy.

Among the state government agencies, Pungrain had procured 26.68 lakh tonnes (25.9%) whereas Markfed procured 24.19 lakh tonnes (23.5%). Punsup procured 26.06 lakh tonnes (25.3%), PSWC procured 13.55 lakh tonnes (13.2%) whereas PAIC procured 11.26 lakh tonnes (10.9 %) of paddy. The Central government agency FCI had been able to procure 1.32 lakh tonnes (1.3%).

The spokesman said that Ludhiana district with 16.65 lakh tonnes of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Sangrur district with 16.27 lakh tonnes of procurement was at second slot and Patiala district with 13.09 lakh tonnes of procurement ranked at third position.

The State government has set up 1544 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.

UNI