Procurement at peak, govt claims 100% lifting in 6 dists

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 14

With paddy procurement by the government agencies to the tune of 152,31,052 metric tonnes (MT) as of November 13 

in the kharif marketing season 2019-20, the procurement figures supersede the paddy procurement by the government agencies on the same date last year, which was 149,44,231 MT, said an official spokesman of the state government. 

On the whole, the government agencies and private millers have procured 153,32,321 metric tonnes of paddy in Punjab till Wednesday, while payments worth Rs 23,485.35 crore have been transferred to the accounts of arhtiyas/farmers by the government, rendering MSP benefits to 10,55,840 farmers.

The spokesperson claimed that the entire procurement process was going on smoothly with 100 per cent lifting of paddy having been accomplished in six districts of the state, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa, as per the 72-hour lifting norm.

Sharing the procurement statistics, the spokesman said that Pungrain has procured 63,19,393 MT, Markfed 39,11,398 tonnes and Punsup 31,04,645 tonnes, while Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 16,90,743 MT paddy. The Centre Government agency FCI has procured 2,04,872 MT, while 1,01,269 MT paddy has been procured by the millers.