The government's kharif paddy buying rises 18.78 percent to 310.61 lakh tonnes so far this year, with over 65 percent been purchased from Punjab alone, according to the Union food ministry. About Rs 58,644.65 crore worth of paddy has been bought at the minimum support price (MSP) from about 28.45 lakh farmers so far, it said in a statement.

Paddy procurement commenced in Punjab and Haryana from September 26 due to the early arrival of the crop, while in other states from October 1. More than 80 percent of the country's paddy crop is grown in the kharif season. The government through Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies undertake procurement of paddy at the minimum support price (MSP). According to the ministry, about 310.61 lakh tonne of paddy has been procured up to November 26, against 261.48 lakh tonne in the year-ago period.

For the current year, the Centre has fixed the MSP of paddy at Rs 1,868 per quintal, while that of A-grade variety has been fixed at Rs 1,888 per quintal. According to the ministry, MSP procurement of paddy in this kharif 2020-21 marketing season is "continuing smoothly" in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

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