Bhubaneswar, Oct. 21 -- New Delhi: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution claimed that the Paddy procurement in current season has exceeded by 22.43 per cent as compared to the previous season and the Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops on MSP from the farmers.

The ministry in a statement said Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is progressing at a fast pace in the procuring States and UTs of Punjab, Haryana, UP, TN, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, J&K and Kerala with purchase of over 98.19 lakh MT of paddy from 8.54 lac farmers valuing Rs 18,539.86 crore at MSP rate of Rs 18,880 per MT. Paddy Procurement during corresponding period of KMS 2019-20 was 80.20 LMT.

The proposal for procurement of 42.46 LMT of...