The pace of paddy collection looks up this season with procurement of about 14132.378 metric tonnes (mt) more from different parts of Udham Singh Nagar district till December 17 as compared to the figure of the corresponding period of previous year.
Whereas the different paddy procurement agencies could collect only 33861.618 mt of paddy till December 17 in 2013 the procurement agencies, including the cooperative and the State food supply departments, had collected 47993.996 mt over the same period this year, showing a rise of 14132.378 mt, as the officials concerned of the Udham Singh Nagar district administration said.
Meanwhile, out of 47993.996 mt of paddy collected from different parts of Udham Singh Nagar till December 17, the cooperative sector had collected 36999.796 mt while 10994.200 mt had been procured by the food supply department, the officials concerned informed. Since the paddy procurement exercise that started from October will continue in different parts of the region till January 31, next, the volume of paddy thud procured is likely to go up in due course of time, the officials said.
Notably, the Government has fixed Rs 1360 as minimum support price for per quintal of common paddy and Rs 1400 for per quintal of Grade One paddy for this Kharif season. The district officials further have said that a total 60 paddy purchasing centres have been set up by the procurement agencies in various parts of Udham Singh Nagar.
The officials concerned have asked the farmers to bring their produce to the paddy purchasing centres for sale only after keeping the humidity level in the paddy below 17 per cent, as per norms.