Punjab Government has made online payments of Rs 473.54 crore to 8,033 farmers against the purchase of their crop by different procurement agencies during the ongoing paddy procurement in the State.
The payments have been made in accordance with the guidelines fixed by the Central Government. “The process of releasing payments has been streamlined and now every day online payments have been released by the Government,” said an official spokesperson.
Meanwhile, a total of 31.03 lakh (31,03,248) tonnes of paddy has been procured till Sunday evening. Out of the total paddy procured, 29.93 lakh (29,93,555) tonnes, that is 96.5 per cent, was procured by the government agencies and private agencies procured 10,9,693 tonnes (which is 3.5 per cent).
The Government agencies including PUNGRAIN procured 8,65,255 tonnes (28.9 per cent), MARKFED procured 7,16,466 tonnes (23.9 per cent), PUNSUP 6,68,498 tonnes (22.3 per cent), PSWC 2,91,721 (9.7 per cent) and PAFC 3,13,810 tonnes(10.5 per cent).
The Central Government agency, Food Corporation of India (FCI), could procure 1,37,805 tonnes (4.6 per cent) of paddy till Sunday evening. Giving details of the district-wise paddy procurement across the State, spokesperson said that Kapurthala district was still on the top by procuring 3,00,137 tonnes of paddy while Jalandhar and Faridkot were placed at second and third position by procuring 2,92,349 and 2,73,695 tonnes of paddy till October 19.