Stage set for paddy procurement in Karimnagar

Stage is set for 340 procurement centres to be established to purchase 4.01 lakh metric tonnes of paddy expected to arrive at the centres in the present Vanakalam season

Karimnagar: Officials are making arrangements to procure paddy by establishing paddy procurement centres in the district. The stage is set for 340 procurement centres to be established to purchase 4.01 lakh metric tonnes of paddy expected to arrive at the centres in the present Vanakalam season.

Officials are focusing more on establishing PPCs since fine variety paddy will be reaching the centres this time around. Unlike previous seasons, fine variety paddy was sowed in a big way in Vanakalam season following the State government’s promise to provide a bonus of Rs.500 per quintal of fine variety paddy.

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Paddy has been sowed in 3.93 lakh acres in the present season. Of this, fine variety was cultivated in 1.18 lakh acres. Officials estimate 5.66 lakh metric tonnes of paddy to be produced including 2.48 lakh metric tonnes of fine variety and 3.17 lakh of common variety. From this, 4.01 lakh metric tonnes is expected to arrive at the procurement centres. While 1.07 lakh metric tonnes would be fine variety, 2.93 lakh metric tonnes would be the common variety.

The government has already issued guidelines to verify the fine variety paddy including height and width of seed. Though officials made all arrangements for procurement, there was a shortfall of gunny bags. Presently, 17.95 lakh gunny bags were available with the administration. About 82.04 lakh more gunny bags are required to procure the entire crop.

The Centre has fixed Rs 2,320 as minimum support price (MSP) for Grade-A variety and Rs 2,300 for common variety.