Paddy procurement exceeds last year's procurement in Punjab

Chandigarh, Nov 14 (UNI) Paddy procurement in Punjab has touched the mark of 124.76 lakh tonnes exceeding the magical mark of 124.70 lakh tonnes procured in the state during the last Kharif season.

Private miller had purchased 11,27,000 MT paddy, including Basmati and Sharbati, before the commencement of procurement operations in Punjab on September 26, 2007. This purchase is in addition to 124.76 lakh tonnes paddy procured in the state this year.

According to an official spokesman, though procurement this year has already exceeded last year's total procurement, the Punjab government was committed to purchase every grain of paddy being brought by farmers at the procurement centers.

The spokesman informed the government agencies and private millers procured more than 124.76 lakh tonnes of paddy till yesterday evening.

Out of the total procurement of 124,76,522 tonnes of paddy, Government agencies procured 102,20,372 tonnes (81.9%) till date whereas millers lifted 22,56,150 tonnes (18.1 %) paddy.

Till yesterday, PUNGRAIN procured 26,37,018 tonnes (25.8 per cent), MARKFED 23,99,900 tonnes ( 23.5 per cent), PUNSUP 25,88,471 tonnes (25.3 per cent) , PSWC 13,47,478 tonnes (13.2 per cent) and PAIC 11,15,998 tonnes (10.9 per cent) paddy.

The central government agency FCI had procured 1,31,507 tonnes (1.3%).

Ludhiana district with 16,54,824 tonnes procurement was leading in procurement operations, followed by Sangrur district recording procurement of 15,85,064 tonnes and the Patiala district registering 12,94,493 tonnes, according to spokesman.

The state government has set up 1,544 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.

UNI