Punjab Cabinet reviews paddy procurement arrangements

Chandigarh, Sep 14 (UNI) The Punjab Cabinet today reviewed the arrangements for the procurement of 109 lakh metric tonne (MT) paddy in this season.

The procurement is to commence from October one.

The Cabinet met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

It was informed in the meeting that approximately 23.45 lakh hectares was under paddy this year and 136.75 lakh MT of the crop was expected to be produced. Out of this, 130.00 lakh MT was likely to be the marketable surplus.

During 2005-06 Kharif Season, 116.12 lakh MT paddy was produced by the state procuring agencies and 21.82 lakh MT was procured by the traders/millers.

The cabinet was informed that elaborate arrangements had been made for the procurement of 109.00 lakh MT this year against the expected marketable surplus of 130.00 lakh MT. The balance quantity of 21.00 lakh MT paddy was expected to be procured by the rice millers/traders.

The crop will be procured by six procuring agencies--Punjgrain, Markfed, Punsup, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Punjab Agro Food Corporation and FCI.

The Council of Ministers also approved to sanction Rs 7.02 crore for compensation to the farmers on account of damage to the crops of potato, capsicum (Shimal Mirch) and tomatoes due to severe cold and frost in the districts of Bathinda, Ferozpur, Faridkot.

Jalandhar, Sangrur. Ludhiana and Moga.

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