FCI procures 75,000 quintal of paddy from Assam

GUWAHATI: Food Corporation of India has procured over 75,000 quintal of paddy from farmers in Assam so far during the current fiscal.

In a written reply in the state legislative assembly, Agriculture Minister Nilomoni Sen Deka today said FCI has set up 20 procurement centres across various districts and of these 13 are currently engaged in the process.

As on March 1, a total of 75,348 quintal of paddy has been procured by the central agency in the state. The highest procurement of 30,514 quintal has been made in the Hojai centre in central Assam.

Deka said the procurement has been carried out directly from the farmers and middle-men are not involved in the process.

The minimum support price fixed by the central government for common variety of paddy is Rs 1,080 per quintal, while it is Rs 1,110 per quintal for the A grade variety, he added.