The Punjab government is set to procure 185 lakh tonnes of paddy for the Kharif season 2024-25. More than 2,000 procurement centers have been set up across the state. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann held a meeting with Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and officials on Sunday to review the state's paddy procurement preparations. The Chief Minister said that procurement will begin on October 1, with the Central Government approving the purchase of 185 lakh tonnes. The state government has made preparations to purchase 190 lakh tonnes of paddy.
Mann said that paddy has been sown on 32 lakh hectares this season, leading to expectations of a good harvest. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has already released Rs 41,378 crore for the Kharif season. The Central Government has set the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for ordinary paddy at Rs. 2300 per quintal and for Grade-A paddy at Rs. 2320 per quintal.
Mann said that the state government had already made sufficient arrangements to buy the farmers' crops that reached the markets. A suitable mechanism has been developed to ensure farmers are paid on the spot in their bank accounts. The Chief Minister also asked the Deputy Commissioners to ensure the smooth procurement process of paddy in the markets as well as prompt payment of crops in their respective districts. The Chief Minister said the 750 mill owners who apply first will be allocated 25 percent more paddy than their usual allotment under the policy.