The total rice production for the 2023-24 season is estimated at a record 137.825 million tonnes (MT), which is 2.070 MT higher than the previous year’s production of 135.755 MT. Procurement of rice commenced in almost all states around October. The target for rice procurement this year is set at 485.11 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), which represents an 8% reduction compared to last year’s target of 524.85 LMT.

Among the states, Punjab leads with a procurement target of 124 LMT, followed by Chhattisgarh with 70 LMT, Uttar Pradesh with 41 LMT, Haryana and Odisha with 40 LMT each, Telangana with 36 LMT, Madhya Pradesh with 30 LMT, Andhra Pradesh with 25 LMT, Bihar with 23 LMT, West Bengal with 17 LMT, and Tamil Nadu with 16 LMT, among others.

As of October 9, 2024, paddy procurement has reached approximately 2.428 LMT, with procurement actively underway in Tamil Nadu (2.06 LMT), Haryana (0.32 LMT), Punjab (0.038 LMT), and Uttar Pradesh.

Sluggish Procurement in Punjab
On October 3, 2024, 39,000 tons of paddy—the principal crop for kharif—arrived in Punjab. This marked the biggest slowdown in the state’s procurement, as mandis across the state saw an 85% decline from the 2023 season. The arthiyas’ strike, which is demanding a 2.5% commission on crop purchases instead of the current system of a set remuneration of ₹46 per quintal, has been blamed for the slow arrival of paddy. The harvest has also not begun to pick up speed because of last week’s inconsistent rains throughout the state. After an arthiya delegation met with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh today and decided to end their protest, procurement of non-basmati crops by public and commercial entities is anticipated to resume on Tuesday. According to data from the Punjab Mandi Board, on October 8, 52,473 tons of paddy arrived at the mandis across all 23 districts, marking the biggest arrival since the procurement season began on Oct 1.