Punjab procures over 170 lakh tonnes paddy

Chandigarh, Nov 30 (IANS) Punjab has procured over 170 lakh tonnes of paddy this kharif season, Food and Supplies officials said on Friday.

"Government agencies and private millers have procured 170.02 lakh tonne of paddy in Punjab till November 29," a Punjab government spokesman said here.

While government agencies procured 168.80 lakh tonnes of paddy, 121,884 tonnes has been procured by the millers.

Payments of Rs 29,043.85 crore have been made to farmers and 'arthiyas' (commission agents), the spokesman said. The Punjab government was targetting procurement of 200 lakh tonne of paddy this season.

In 2017-18, a total of 179.34 lakh tonnes of paddy was procured. Paddy procurement started in the agrarian state on October 1.