Paddy buying sees a weak start in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Paddy procurement is moving slow this kharif marketing season in Punjab, with crop buying reaching just 8.62 lakh tonne in the first week of October, much lower than 14.01 lakh tonne in the same period last year.

Arrivals have been low as well, due to unripening of paddy and inclement weather in September, traders said.

Of the total paddy procurement so far, government agencies have picked up 7.71 lakh tonne, constituting 89.4 per cent of total the arrivals.

Private traders have been aggressive and have bought 91,325 tonne paddy so far in the kharif marketing season (October-November), said an official.

Pungrain bought 2.40 lakh tonne, Markfed procured 1.53 lakh tonne, Punsup lifted 1.87 lakh tonne, PSWC procured 91,797 tonne while PAIC procured 93,502 tonne of paddy.

The Centre's procurement agency FCI has been able to procure just 5,102 tonne.

The official that district Tarn Taran with 1.35 lakh tonne of procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas Jalandhar with 1.03 lakh tonne of procurement was at second slot.

The state government has set up 1,745 procurement centres and activated its total machinery to ensure smooth procurement of paddy, the official added.