Target to procure 485.11 lakh tonnes of rice in Kharif season

18-Oct-2024 07:18 PM

New Delhi. The Central Government has set a target to procure 485.11 lakh tonnes of rice during the current Kharif marketing season of 2024-25, which is about 36 lakh tonnes less than the target of 521.27 lakh tonnes set for the 2023-24 season.

Due to increase in area and support of adequate monsoon rains, paddy production is expected to increase this time, but still the government has reduced the target of rice procurement.

According to official data, a total of 525.37 lakh tonnes of rice was purchased for the central pool during the entire marketing season (Kharif and Rabi) of 2023-24, whereas in the season 2022-23, its quantity had reached 569.40 lakh tonnes.

There is sufficient stock of rice available in government godowns, so even if there is a little less procurement in the Kharif marketing season, there will be no threat to national food security. About 75-80 percent of rice for the central pool is procured in the Kharif season and the remaining 15-20 percent in the Rabi season.

During the current Kharif marketing season of 2024-25, a target has been set to procure 124 lakh tonnes of rice in Punjab, 39.50 lakh tonnes in Haryana, 36 lakh tonnes in Uttar Pradesh and about 24 lakh tonnes in Tamil Nadu.

Apart from this, huge quantities of rice are also procured in states like Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

The target for the current year is not final and can be increased if required, as was seen in Chhattisgarh in the 2023-24 season and before that in Telangana.

During this year's Kharif season, the area under paddy production at the national level jumped to a peak of 414.50 lakh hectares, which is 10 lakh hectares or 2.5 percent more than last year's area of ​​404.50 lakh hectares.

Production is expected to increase due to good rains. Preparations for harvesting of the new crop of paddy have already begun in many states.