The procurement of paddy is on full steam in Uttar Pradesh and over 340,000 tonnes have already been procured against a target of 2.6 million tonnes (mt) for the 2008-09 kharif season.
The procurement process, which took off since October 1, will continue through the month of February 2009.
Against the target of 2.6 mt, state agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI) have a share of 1.8 mt and 800,000 tonnes, respectively, UP food and civil supplies Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Mehboob Hasan Khan told Business Standard.
“A total of 1,979 and 302 procurement centres of state agencies and FCI, respectively, have been set up all over UP for the purpose,” he informed.
Last year, UP had procured about 2.25 mt of the kharif crop against a target of 1.8 mt.
Meanwhile, the government has also engaged agents to boost paddy procurement like last year and is giving a commission of 1.5 per cent on the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 900 per quintal (including a bonus MSP of Rs 50).
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Currently, there are around 4,800 commission agents who are registered with the state Mandi Parishad.
Simultaneously, the state government is also undertaking custom milling of paddy and the figure has already touched 75,000 tonnes till date.
An estimated 6 million hectares was under the paddy crop this season. In 2007-08, the production stood at about 11.7 mt on the acreage of a little under 5.7 million hectares.
“The estimated production figure for paddy this season would be known by November 30, as we are still receiving and collating the data for the different places,” UP Agriculture Director RR Verma said.