Paddy procurement for central pool up 13% at 38 million tonnes till December 11

Procurement of paddy for the central pool in the ongoing 2022-23 kharif marketing season was 13% higher at 38.06 million tonnes as on December 11, compared with 33.62 million tonnes a year earlier, according to latest data from Food Corporation of India (FCI).

The data indicates that this year, the government is actively procuring paddy to fill up its stocks, said Tarun Satsangi, assistant general manager at Origo Commodities, which focuses on commodity supply chain, post-harvest management, trade and finance.

Trade sources believe this year the government's paddy stocks would be 5% higher than last year, touching 80 mt.


While procurement from Punjab, Haryana and Tamil Nadu increased this season from the previous one, it was lower in Uttar Pradesh, one of the top producers of the grain. Till December 11, UP's contribution was 20.02 million tonnes against 23.77 million tonnes a year earlier.

A deficiency in rainfall during monsoon (June-September) had led to lower paddy acreage in Uttar Pradesh, causing a fall in production.

Procurement from Punjab and Haryana is almost over, while it is ongoing in Chhattisgarh, UP and Telangana.

The government aims to procure 77.13 million tonnes of paddy during the ongoing kharif marketing season. The total procurement in the previous season was 75.93 million tonnes. Paddy is a summer as well as winter crop. However, 80% of it is produced during the kharif, or summer, season.

Under the central pool, paddy is procured at a minimum support price and is used for various welfare schemes. The procurement is undertaken by FCI and various state agencies on its behalf.