Punjab’s rice contribution to central pool to be higher this year: PAU
Paddy arrival and procurement in various mandis of the state may not have picked up pace but economists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have said that this year, Punjab’s rice contribution to the central pool is likely to go up from last year’s 78 lakh tonnes to around 81 lakh tonnes.
Paddy arrival and procurement in various mandis of the state may not have picked up pace but economists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have said that this year, Punjab’s rice contribution to the central pool is likely to go up from last year’s 78 lakh tonnes to around 81 lakh tonnes.
Reason: This year, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is also buying basmati (1509) besides the regular paddy varieties as the area under basmati cultivation has been going up over the years, according to experts.
“This year, 80 lakh tonnes of rice procurement is expected, which will also figure the FCI’s purchase of basmati. The public procurement of basmati is being made for the first time in Indian agriculture. Besides, the area under basmati has also been increasing,” said senior economist Mohinder Singh Sidhu.
Sharing current procurement figures, he said, “As per the latest procurement follow-up by Punjab Mandi Board (as on October 13), 21.78 lakh tonnes of paddy has already arrived in the mandis, but last year by this day, the figure was 23.34 lakh tonnes. It is because harvesting has been delayed this year due to the inclement weather and there are many farmers who are yet to begin harvesting. The unseasonal rain on Wednesday can further delay the harvesting and lower the paddy quality.”
Paddy procurement: Punjab
Year Lakh Tonnes
2008-09 85.54 (25.08%)
2009-10 92.75 (28.95%)
2010-11 86.35 (25.25%)
2011-12 77.31 (22.05%)
2012-13 85.58 25.15%)
2013-14 81.06 (25.46%)
2014-15 78 (24.39%)
(Source: FCI; Figures in bracket show Punjab’s share in the total procurement of rice in India).