Chandigarh: The ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25 has seen a robust procurement of paddy in Punjab, with 126.67 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) arriving in mandis as of November 8, 2024. Of this, state agencies and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have procured 120.67 LMT, purchased at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,320 per quintal for Grade ‘A’ paddy. The procurement amounts to an impressive ₹27,995 crore, benefitting around 6.58 lakh farmers across the state.
The paddy procurement process, which began on October 1, 2024, is being carried out across 2,927 mandis and temporary yards to ensure smooth operations. The Central Government has set an estimated target of procuring 185 LMT of paddy in Punjab for the KMS 2024-25, with procurement expected to continue until November 30.
The Punjab government has also made substantial arrangements for milling, with 4,839 millers applying for shelling, and 4,743 millers already allotted work by the state authorities. The lifting of paddy from mandis is progressing swiftly, with lifted quantities outpacing daily arrivals, ensuring a seamless procurement process.