Paddy procurement

Punjab likely to miss target as yield reduces by 15%. With low yield trend in this season, there are speculations that Punjab might miss its target of 200 lakh metric ton (LMT) paddy procurement. Punjab which contributed 51% of total paddy procured by the Food Corporation of India had procured 191.17 LMT paddy last year. The FCI had purchased around 375 LMT paddy from across the country in 2017. The late rain spell and squall in many parts of Punjab has brought down the paddy yield. Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar, Moga, Tarn Taran and Amritsar are among the worst hit districts. Against a yield of 65 quintal per hectare of last year, this time the yield is down to 60 quintal per hectare. In some districts, the yield is more affected. Roughly, the procurement will be down by 10 to 15%.