2.87 lakh tonnes paddy procured till October 5

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 6

The Centre said on Wednesday that 2,87,552 tonnes of paddy have been procured in the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2021-22 till  October 5, benefiting 29,907 farmers with MSP value of Rs 563.60 crore. Of the total quantity, 1,46,509 tonnes were procured in Haryana and 1,41,043 tonnes in Punjab, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Officials said paddy procurement in Kharif 2020-21 “has almost concluded with the purchase of 894.24 LMT (including Kharif crop 718.09 LMT and Rabi 176.15 LMT) up to October 5 against the last year’s corresponding purchase of 768.70 LMT.

About 131.14 lakh farmers benefited from KMS 2020-21 procurement operations with an MSP value of Rs 1,68,832.78 crore, they said adding that paddy procurement reached an all-time high level, surpassing the previous high of 770.93 LMT in KMS 2019-20.

“In RMS 2021-22, 433.44 LMT wheat was procured, an all-time high, benefitting about 49.20 lakh farmers with MSP value of Rs.85,603.57 crore,” they also added.

Acceding to farmers’ demand, the Centre last week decided to begin paddy procurement for KMS 2021-22 in Punjab and Haryana from October 3.

It had earlier decided to delay the procurement of paddy under MSP to October 11 in Punjab and Haryana in “overall interest of farmers and consumers as well as to accept paddy stock as per FAQ”, leading to widespread protests in the two states.