Over 5 lakh tonnes paddy procured in Punjab

Chandigarh, Oct 2 (UNI) More than five lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured in Punjab within the first three days of the Kharif Marketing Season 2008-09, which commenced on September 29.

According to an official spokesman the purcurement picked up yesterday with 4.94 lakh tonnes being purchased till late evening.

As per official statistics avaliable for yesterday, Pungrain procured 1,14,483 tonnes of paddr, Markfed procured 1,14,407 tonnes, Punsup procured 93657 tonnes, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 60,354 tonnes and Punjab Agros purchased 50,289 tonnes.

FCI procured only 4005 tonnes paddy yesterday while the private millers purchased 57,249 tonnes.

The 'mandis' in Amritsar division recorded 2,15,661 tonnes of paddy yesterday, with Tarn Taran recording maximum purchase of 75,174 tonnes. The mandis of Ferozepur division recorded 2,61,972 tonnes with Ferozpur district leading with 1,00,505 tonnes.

A total of 1622 procurement centres has been set up to ensure smooth procurement of paddy.

The spokesman said that farmers of the state have been assured payment of paddy procured by the government agencies within 48 hours of lifting of the food grain from the procurement centres.

UNI HS MMS1730