TAD NewsDesk,New Delhi: The government’s kharif paddy procurement jumps 18.78 per cent to 310.61 lakh tonnes so far this year, with over 65 per cent been purchased from Punjab alone, according to the Union food ministry. In a statement, it said, About Rs 58,644.65 crore worth of paddy has been purchased at the minimum support price (MSP) from about 28.45 lakh farmers so far.

Paddy procurement in Punjab has started from September 26 as the crop arrived early and in the rest of the states from October 1.

More than 80 per cent of the country’s paddy crop is grown in the kharif season. The government through Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies undertakes procurement of paddy at the minimum support price (MSP).

A statement by the ministry noted,

“Out of the total purchase of 310.61 lakh tonne, Punjab alone has contributed 202.65 lakh tonne, which is 65.24 per cent of the total procurement.”

For the current year, the Centre has fixed the MSP of paddy (common grade) at Rs 1,868 per quintal, while that of A-grade variety has been fixed at Rs 1,888 per quintal.

Despite allegations by various organizations from different states, The ministry is claiming that smooth procurement is continuing from the following states:
  • Punjab
  • Haryana
  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Telangana
  • Uttarakhand
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Chandigarh
  • Jammu and Kashmir
  • Kerala, Gujarat
  • Andhra Pradesh

The Centre has given nod for procurement of 45.24 lakh tonne of kharif pulses and oilseeds this year under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) to 10 states as well as 1.23 tonne of Copra in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Approval for other states will be given on receipt of proposals for procurement as per PSS norms, the ministry added.

Source: The Economic Times