Sanjha Morcha

Paddy purchase on MSP up 24%

Paddy purchase on MSP up 24%

Paddy purchase has been to the tune of 488 LMT up to December 31, which is an increase of more than 24 per cent against the corresponding purchase of over 390 LMT in 2019. – File photo

New Delhi, January 1

Ahead of next round of talks with protesting farmer unions to break the stalemate on the farm laws, the Centre on Friday said the procurement of kharif crops continues as per existing MSP schemes, registering higher procurement of paddy till December 31, 2020, corresponding to the year before.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said paddy procurement for the kharif market season (KMS) 2020-21 was continuing “smoothly” in the procuring states and UTs, including Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Paddy purchase has been to the tune of 488 LMT up to December 31, which is an increase of more than 24 per cent against the corresponding purchase of over 390 LMT in 2019. Out of the total purchase, Punjab alone contributed to about 203 LMT, which is more than 41 per cent of the total procurement. — TNS