The Hindu Business Line : Rice purchases cross 10-m tonne mark

NEW DELHI: Rice procurement by the Centre has crossed the 10-million tonne (mt) mark, with an increase of over 20 per cent from the corresponding period last year.

“Rice procurement in the ongoing season has reached 10.17 mt as on November 17 compared to 8.47 mt in the year-ago period,” a senior official of Food Corporation of India (FCI) said on Monday.

The Government aims to procure 27.6 mt of rice in 2008-09 season (October-November) for which it has announced the minimum support prices (MSPs) at Rs 850 a quintal for common variety and Rs 880 a quintal for 'Grade A'. Besides, the Centre also announce d a bonus of Rs 50 a quintal over and above the MSP for this season.

The rice procurement began from October 1 in all States except in Haryana, where it was advanced to September 22 at the request of the State Government.

Despite advancing the procurement schedule in Haryana, the Government has procured lower quantity of rice – 1.23 mt till November 17, compared to 1.32 mt in the year-ago period. Among the States, Punjab contributed the highest with over eight million to nnes.

According to FCI data, paddy arrival in mandis has reached at 17.62 mt compared to 16.27 mt in the corresponding period last year. Similarly, the Centre has been able to procure over 84 per cent of the paddy that arrived in mandis this year as against 75 per cent last year, the official said.

In 2007-08 season, rice procurement was 28.5 mt. – PTI

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