This time a target of government procurement of 160 lakh tonnes of paddy has been set in Chhattisgarh.

10-Dec-2024 08:08 PM

Chhattisgarh has set an ambitious target for government procurement of 160 lakh tonnes of paddy for the 2024-25 Kharif marketing season.

This target is a significant increase from previous years, reflecting the state's strong position as a key contributor to India's central rice pool.

If this target is achieved, Chhattisgarh is likely to come very close to Punjab, which has been the leading state for paddy procurement.

For the 2024-25 season, Punjab had set a target of procuring 185 lakh tonnes of paddy, but the actual procurement reached only 172.27 lakh tonnes, falling short of the target.

In contrast, Chhattisgarh, which is now the second-largest contributor to the central rice pool, has already seen a remarkable increase in procurement. By December 9, 2024, the state had procured over 34.49 lakh tonnes of paddy, an increase of 13.29 lakh tonnes compared to the same period in 2023.

This boost in procurement reflects both the increased production of paddy and the efficient pace of procurement at government centres.

The surge in paddy procurement in Chhattisgarh is largely due to strong government support in recent years, which has spurred rapid growth in paddy production.

This has significantly benefited farmers, resulting in increased income and sustaining their enthusiasm for paddy cultivation.

Moreover, Chhattisgarh not only supplies a large quantity of paddy to the central pool but also plays a key role in exporting rice internationally.

While procurement continues to ramp up in Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Haryana have already halted their procurement processes for the season, further highlighting Chhattisgarh's growing importance in India's rice production and supply chain.