85.74 lakh MT paddy procured

Moga, Oct 23 (UNI) Various government agencies and private traders have so far procured 85.74 lakh MT of paddy upto October 22 out of total arrival of 87.34 lakh MT, chairman Punjab Mandi Board Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said here today.

Mr Lakhowal was here along with other senior officers of the procurement agencies, mandi board official and subdivisional magistrate Moga, to review the procurement operation of paddy in the mandis and purchase centres of the district including Moga, Ajitwala, Baghapurana, Dala and Charik.

While talking to mediapersons, Mandi Board chairman said that in the corresponding period of last year, government agencies and private millers had procured 101 lakh MT of paddy out of total arrival of 101.68 lakh MT. This year the paddy arrival was slow due to late sowing, he explained.

He also disclosed that out of total purchase, government agencies procured 70.24 lakh MT whereas millers procured 15.50 lakh MT of paddy.

Mandi Board chairman said that Punjab expected a bumper crop this year in view of better paddy yield of 28 quintal per acre as compared to 25 quintals per acre last year.

He was confident that state would easily achieve the target of 145 lakh MT and hoped arrival and purchase would go upto 160 lakh MT.

He also claimed that payment for about 98 per cent of the procured paddy have already been made, elaborating that that of total due of Rs 506.28 crore, a sum of Rs 504.04 crore had been paid to the farmers.

After reviewing the progress and procurement operation of paddy in the district, Mr Lakhowal observed that Moga was ahead in all functions including procurement, lifting and payment made to the farmers in the state.

UNI XC JN VN1757