Higher paddy procurement in Punjab this year

Punjab has recorded higher paddy procurement this year compared to last year, food and supplies department officials said here on Monday. The state has procured over 103 lakh tonnes of paddy till Monday compared to about 90 lakh tonnes procured in the same period last year.

Punjab has recorded higher paddy procurement this year compared to last year, food and supplies department officials said here on Monday. The state has procured over 103 lakh tonnes of paddy till Monday compared to about 90 lakh tonnes procured in the same period last year.

Punjab is eying to procure 137 tonnes of paddy this year as against 118 tonnes procured in 2014. The Punjab government has made payment of Rs 9,428 crore to the farmers for the procured paddy crop.(HT Photo)

Paddy procurement in the state started on October 1. Punjab is eying to procure 137 tonnes of paddy this year as against 118 tonnes procured in 2014. The Punjab government has made payment of Rs 9,428 crore to the farmers for the procured paddy crop. Over 97.3% of the paddy has been procured by government agencies. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had sanctioned Rs 18,972 crore for paddy procurement in Punjab this season. Sangrur and Ludhiana districts have led the state in paddy procurement this year. Neighbouring Haryana is expecting to procure over 35 lakh tonnes of paddy.