Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Nov 11 (IANS) Reaching another milestone in the procurement season this year, foodgrain producing states Punjab and Haryana have procured over 150 lakh tonnes of paddy, an official said Friday.

The procurement has been done in the first 40 days of the procurement season that began Oct 1.

Punjab has procured nearly 114.29 lakh tonnes of paddy this year compared to 120 lakh tonnes procured in the same period last year, state food and supplies department officials said here.

Government agencies have procured over 96.5 percent of the paddy coming to grain markets across the state, while the rest has been procured by private millers.

Ludhiana, Sangrur and Patiala districts were leading in paddy procurement so far. The Punjab government has set up 1,745 procurement centres across the state.

In neighbouring Haryana, nearly 35.90 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured till Thursday evening.

This is much higher than the 28.5 lakh tonnes paddy procured in the same period last year.

Kurukshetra, Karnal and Fatehabad districts were leading in paddy procurement so far, a spokesman of the Haryana food and supplies department said.