Bumper paddy harvest in Punjab, despite fall in sowing area

Chandigarh, Oct 19 (UNI) Despite a fall in the area under paddy cultivation, Punjab is expecting a bumper harvest and according to rought estimates the total production in the state is likely to touch 136.75 lakh tonnes.

Of the total production, about 130 lakh tonnes is expected to arrive in the grain markets, an official statement said today.

The paddy arrivals in the border state have been going on at a very fast right from the start of this month and so far 78.27 lakh tonnes had arrived in the various 'mandis'.

Of the government purchase agencies, Punsup was the largest purchase (16.95 lakh tonnes), followed by Pungrain at 16.49 lakh tonnes. Markfed, the country's leading cooperative had procured 13.85 lakh tonnes, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation had purchased 7.63 lakh tonnes and Punjab Agro Industries Corporation had picked up 8.73 lakh tonnes.

The Central Government agency, Food Corporation of India had so far purchased only 1.99 lakh tonnes from the state. The private millers were also making brisk business having picked up 12.60 lakh tonnes.

UNI HS SBA HT1752