Punjab in the KMS 2024-25 has procured 85.41 LMT of paddy and dispersed Rs 19,800 crore to benefit 4 lakh farmers. Procurement picked pace with 2,927 mandis as some time delay was due to heavy rain and Centre had set a target of 185 LMT this year.
Punjab’s Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25 has witnessed a healthy opening with paddy reaching mandis at a total of 90.69 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) as on November 2, 2024. Till date, State agencies and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have procured 85.41 LMT.
The procurement beginning from October 1 is scheduled to ensure a fair share for the farmers. A sum of Rs 2,320 per quintal has been decided by the Minimum Support Price of the Central Government for Grade ‘A’ paddy. A significant amount of Rs 19,800 crore, for the benefit of about 4 lakh farmers from every nook and corner of the state, is a very large financial inflow in the farming community of Punjab.
Punjab has developed 2,927 mandis and transitory collection yards to facilitate easy procurement. In view of the demand of millers, 4,640 millers have sought permission for paddy shelling. So far, till November, 4,132 millers have been provided with work by the Punjab government and the paddy milling process for KMS 2024-25 has gained momentum.
The Central Government has decided to continue the procurement process for the entire KMS 2024-25 season with a target of 185 LMT. Although the initial part of the season had been slow due to excessive rainfall and high moisture content in September, subsequently the procurement gained momentum, indicating that the state was robust and prepared enough to face the seasonal challenges.
