Paddy procurement reaches 70% of target

The ongoing paddy procurement season in Kapurthala district has gained steady momentum, with arrivals nearing 70 per cent of the target set for the season.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal informed that a target of 8,20,017 metric tonnes of paddy was fixed for the district and so far, 5,71,818.44 metric tonnes have arrived at various procurement centres. Of this, 5,66,005.31 metric tonnes have already been procured by different government agencies, while payments amounting to Rs 1,308 crore have been released to farmers within the stipulated timeframe.

Among the procurement agencies, PUNGRAIN has purchased 2,07,645.71 metric tonnes of paddy, accounting for 36 percent of the total procurement. MARKFED has procured 1,66,859.71 metric tonnes (29 per cent), PUNSUP 1,37,322.48 metric tonnes (24 per cent), and the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 53,837.91 metric tonnes (9 per cent), while private traders have purchased 339.50 metric tonnes.