Chandigarh, The Punjab government today released an amount of Rs. 1298.72 crore to about 15,000 to artiyas against the purchase of their crop by different procurement agencies during the ongoing paddy procurement in the state. As many as 28,459 entries were recorded till last evening. The payment has been made regularly made in accordance with the guidelines of the Government of India.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesman of the government said that 113, 43,084 M tonne of paddy has been procured till last evening. Out of the total paddy procured, 111, 58,574 (98. 4%) M tonne was procured by the government agencies and private agencies procured 1, 84,510 M tonne (1.6%). Out of the government agencies, PUNGRAIN procured 3,51,3463 M tonne (31.5%), MARKFED procured 25,98,473 M tonnes (23.3%), PUNSUP 25,04,990 M tonne (22.4%), PSWC 10,94,175 (9.8%) and PAFC 11,72,609M tonne (10.5%). The central government agency FCI could procure 2, 74,864 M tonne (2.5%) of paddy till last evening.
Meanwhile district Ludhiana took a lead for the third consecutive by procuring 14,64,622 M tonne of paddy till last evening whereas, Sangrur and Moga secured second and third positions by procuring 14,05,154 and 11,26,308 M tonne of paddy respectively.