Chandigarh, Oct 26 (IANS) Despite less-than-normal rainfall and drought-like conditions in some parts, Punjab and Haryana procured over 100 lakh tonnes of paddy this season, government officials from the two states said Monday.
While over 80 lakh tonnes of paddy was procured in Punjab, Haryana procured nearly 24 lakh tonnes.

The total was 104 lakh tonnes in both states. Procurement started in early October and officials said paddy was still arriving in grain markets.

In Punjab, nearly 98 percent of the total paddy arriving in grain markets has been procured by government agencies - five of the Punjab government and also Food Corp of India (FCI) of the central government, food and supplies officials said here.

FCI has procured only 5 percent of the total paddy.

The highest procurement in Punjab was in Patiala district (867,215 tonnes) followed by Ferozepur (840,540 tonnes) and Ludhiana (669,677 tonnes).

Nearly 1,600 procurement centres have been set up across Punjab for purchasing the paddy produce.

In neighbouring Haryana, nearly 24 lakh tonnes of paddy arrived in grain markets and had been procured, officials said.

Of the total arrival, nearly 20 lakh tonnes have been purchased by various procuring agencies while the rest lifted by private rice shellers.

Kurukshetra district maintained its lead in paddy arrival, with over 7.34 lakh tonnes, the officials added.