As the paddy procurement season has begun, the Udham Singh Nagar district administration claims to have collected 111.98 metric tonne paddy till October 24 so far this year in the district. The paddy procurement season is at the initial stage this, but the matter of fact is that about 327.56 metric tone paddy had been procured during the corresponding period last year, said the officials of the Udham Singh Nagar administration. The Government has fixed `1,310 as minimum support price for per quintal of common paddy and `1,345 for per quintal of Grade One paddy for this Kharif season. Besides, as the officials concerned have informed a total 51 paddy purchasing centres have been set up by different Government agencies including the State food supply department, the State cooperative sector and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in various parts of the district.