The Centre’s rice procurement has surpassed the target at 38 million tonnes so far in the ongoing 2017-18 marketing year that will end this month. The rice procurement target set for this year was 37.5 million tonnes.
According to Food Ministry, the Government had procured 34.35 million tonnes during the last marketing year (October-September), surpassing the target of 33 million tonnes set for that year.
“Rice procurement is coming to closure this month. So far, we have procured 38 million tonnes. We have purchased more than the target set for this year,” the official said
Much of the rice was purchased from States like Punjab, Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Over 33 percent of the country’s total rice production has been procured at the MSP.
The paddy is procured at the minimum support price (MSP). State-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State agencies have undertaken procurement operation.
For the current year, the Government has fixed paddy MSP of ‘common’ grade variety at Rs 1,550 per quintal, while that of ‘A’ grade variety at Rs 1,590 per quintal. According to Agriculture Ministry data, the total area planted during the current kharif season crossed the 100-million-hectare mark this week. And for the first time this year, rice planting overtook the area sown in the previous season. The total area under cultivation, however, is still marginally lower at 1,023 (lakh hectare) as compared to 1,027 lakh hectare covered during the corresponding week last year. Rice planting, on the other hand, was completed on 370 lakh hectare as against 368 lakh hectare covered in same period in the previous year.