Rice procurement by Government agencies has crossed 12 million tonne (mt) so far in the kharif marketing season (KMS) 2012-13, starting October.
This is about 8 per cent higher than 11.08 mt in the corresponding period last year. Total paddy procurement in the first two months of KMS 2012-13 stood at 17.63 mt, up by a tenth over last year’s 16 mt.
This increase is led by higher procurement in the key States of Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab, paddy procurement was up by 11 per cent at 12.66 million tonnes. The procurement process is still on in Punjab, whereas in neighbouring Haryana it is almost complete.
Haryana has procured about 31 per cent more paddy this year at 3.81 mt against 2.91 mt in corresponding last year.
The Government agencies had procured 35 mt of rice in 2011-12 season and are targeting 40 mt in the current season. Rice stocks in the Central Pool as on November 1, stood at 28.95 mt, four times the buffer and strategic reserves of 7.7 mt as of October 1.