Uttar Pradesh government today informed that it has procured 6.16 lakh metric tonne paddy from as many as 66,257 farmers this year, and made payments worth Rs 955.58 crore. UP chief secretary Rajive Kumar said the support price for purchase of paddy from farmers is Rs 1,550 per quintal, and they should not be forced to sell their produce at a price less than the support price. Last year, the purchase during the same period was around 1.68 lakh metric tonne.