114.91 lakh tonnes of paddy procured in Punjab this season

CHANDIGARH: More than 114.91 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured by government agencies and private millers in Punjab during the ongoing kharif season till last evening, as against 120.81 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year.

An official spokesman here today said that out of the total procurement of 114.91 lakh tonnes of paddy, government agencies have procured 110.93 lakh tonnes (96.5 per cent) and private traders have lifted 3,97,797 tonnes (3.5 per cent) of paddy till date.

He said Pungrain accounted for the maximum lifting of paddy, procuring 32.31 lakh tonnes (29.1 per cent), followed by Punsup with 27.64 lakh tonnes (24.9 per cent), MARKFED with 25.35 lakh tonnes (22.9 per cent), PSWC with 12.74 lakh tonnes (11.5 per cent) and PAIC with 11.08 lakh tonnes (10 per cent).

In addition, central government agency FCI was able to procure 1,78,519 (1.6 per cent) tonnes of paddy. With 13.88 lakh tonnes of procurement, Ludhiana district led the state in terms of lifting operations, followed by Sangrur district with 13.22 lakh tonnes and Patiala district with 11.21 lakh tonnes, he added. The state government has set up 1,745 procurement centres to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the spokesman added.