Government agencies, including Food Corporation of India (FCI), will start procuring paddy in Punjab and Haryana from September 21, instead of the normal October 1.
This is due to the early arrival of the new crop in these states. However, procurement operations in other paddy producing states, including Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, will begin from October 1, as usual, official sources said.
Last year too, procurement in the two northern rice surplus states had begun from September 21.
However, sources maintained that procurement by FCI will be as per the quality specifications laid down by the Centre.
