Paddy yield fall concern withers away, 168.5 lakh tonnes procured
CHANDIGARH :With paddy procurement by state agencies in Punjab touching 168.5-lakh tonnes, the apprehensions of 15% fall in the yield this kharif season have withered away.
Total arrivals, including the 13-lakh tonnes of aromatic basmati varieties, this season have touched 181.5-lakh tonnes.
At the onset of procurement on October 1, it was apprehended that the yield would fall substantially due to heavy rain in September when the crop was at the maturing stage.
“Apprehensions of fall in yield have proved wrong, as we are heading towards a record production,” said secretary agriculture KS Pannu. He added if arrivals with the corresponding days of the previous year are compared with the current season, there’s a gap of 4.5%.
Last year, total arrivals till November 25 stood at 176.5-lakh tonnes and this year it is 168.5-lakh tonnes — a shortfall of 8-lakh tonnes (4.5%).
The rain in September had affected crop on 1.5-lakh acres as per the state revenue department. The total area under paddy cultivation this year was 75-lakh acres, which is 45,000 acres less than last year.
“Despite this, we are catching up on the paddy production,” said Pannu.
The procurement season will end on December 15 and, as expected, the gap in procurement will reduce further. “We are late by five days because paddy cultivation this season started late on June 20. We expect the arrivals will get delayed by five days as compared to previous year,” said director food and civil supplies Anandita Mitra.
BASMATI ARRIVALS BETTER
The state agriculture department has reported better arrivals of premium aromatic basmati variety this season as compared to the last season. This season, basmati arrivals have touched 13-lakh tones, which was 9-lakh tonnes last year. Total arrivals of paddy, including basmati this season, has touched 181.5-lakh tonnes which in the previous season was 185.5-lakh tonnes.
18,750-TONNE RECYCLED RICE SEIZED
The state food and supplies department has seized 18,750 tonnes of recycled rice this season which allegedly was to be mixed with the freshly procured paddy at the time of handing over of rice to the Food Corporation of India.
According to the food department, arhtiyas and shelling mill owners mix recycled rice brought from outside states at cheaper rates, causing losses to the state exchequer.
AT THE BEGINNING OF PROCUREMENT, THERE WERE APPREHENSIONS THAT THE YIELD WOULD FALL SUBSTANTIALLY DUE TO HEAVY RAIN IN SEPTEMBER