Huge increase in paddy procurement in current Kharif season

There has been a huge increase in procurement of paddy in current Kharif marketing season. The total quantity of paddy procured in terms of rice is over 208 lakh tonnes so far as against 157 lakh tonnes on this date during the previous marketing season. 

An official release said, the major increase in purchase of paddy has taken place in Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

Government has provided an additional funding of Rs 10,000 crore to Food Corporation of India, FCI in order to ensure that it has enough funds to



pay farmers and state government agencies. 

In all, government has released a food subsidy of 87,000 crore rupees to FCI and an Advance of Rs 20,000 crore during the current financial year, which is an all time record. 

Despite 2014 and 2015 being monsoon deficit years, there is more than adequate foodgrain stock available with the government under Central pool due to robust arrangement made by FCI. 

As on 1st of January, there is nearly 238 lakh tonnes of wheat stock and close to 127 lakh tonnes of rice under Central Pool.