Over 147 lakh tonnes of paddy have been procured in food grain states Punjab and Haryana this season, food and supplies officials in both states said Tuesday.
Of this, over 106 lakh tonnes have been procured in Punjab, and over 41 lakh tonnes have been procured in Haryana.
Despite some paddy produce arriving in discoloured form and higher moisture content due to erratic weather in recent months, leading to central agencies not to buy this stock, the procurement of paddy in Punjab has crossed the 106 lakh tonnes mark this year.
Nearly 100 lakh tonnes, or 94.6 percent of the paddy arrival, have been procured by government agencies in Punjab, while the rest has been bought by private rice millers and traders.
Sangrur, Patiala and Ludhiana districts were leading in paddy procurement, the officials said.
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In neighbouring Haryana, over 41.13 lakh tonnes of paddy have arrived so far in various grain markets, officials said. This is higher than the paddy procurement of 38.89 lakh tonnes in the same period last year.
Government agencies in Haryana have procured nearly 34 lakh tonnes of paddy this year. The rest has been bought by rice millers and traders.
Kurukshetra, Karnal and Kaithal districts were leading in paddy arrivals. Procurement of paddy in both the states started Oct 1.
