New Delhi, November 3 (IANS). According to the Central Government, a total of 90.69 lakh metric tonnes of paddy has arrived in the markets of Punjab till November 2. Of this, 85.41 lakh metric tonnes has been purchased by state agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI). Paddy is being purchased at the minimum support price of Rs 2,320. This price has been fixed by the Central Government for Grade ‘A’ paddy.
So far, paddy worth Rs 19,800 crore has been purchased by the government in the current Kharif marketing season 2024-25. 4 lakh farmers have benefited from this. Apart from this, according to the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, 4,640 mill owners have applied for threshing of paddy. 4,132 mill owners have already been allotted work by the Punjab government.
Paddy procurement for Kharif marketing season 2024-25 has already started in Punjab from October 1. Under this procurement, 2,927 identified mandis and temporary yards are operational across the state for smooth procurement from farmers of Punjab. The central government says that it has set an estimated target of paddy procurement at 185 lakh metric tonnes for the current Kharif marketing season 2024-25.
This target of procurement by the government will continue till November 30. However, along with this, the Central Government also said that due to heavy rains in September and high moisture content of paddy, the procurement started a little late, but now this procurement is back on track and is in full swing.
Apart from this, the government had procured 4.7 lakh tonnes of Rabi onion this year for price stabilization buffer. Onions were released in major markets across the country through retail sale at Rs 35 per kg from September 5. So far, more than 1.40 lakh tonnes of onion in the buffer has been sent from Nashik and other source centers to the consumer centres. NCCF has covered 104 destinations in 22 states and NAFED has covered 52 destinations in 16 states in its onion disposal.
–IANS
GCB/ABM
