Punjab which is all set for highest paddy production this year in over a decade, has already contributed almost 51 per cent to the total procurement of rice target for the entire country for the year 2017-18. The state has procured 191.17 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) paddy (parmal rice) till December 2, while Centre had fixed 375 LMT procurement target for paddy across the country. Apart from the paddy rice procurement, Punjab has also procured 13 LMT basmati rice till date. The procurement of both paddy and basmati is still continuing in the state. The record production is the result of expected average 65 quintal yield per hectare this year against 61.93 quintal per hectare last year.