The Centre today fixed higher rice procurement target at 37.5 million tonnes for the 2017-18 marketing season beginning October on hopes of good production. The government's rice procurement has touched 34.35 million tonnes (MT) in the ongoing 2016-17 marketing season (October-September). The procurement has already crossed the target of 33 million tonnes set for this year. The target for each rice producing states was also fixed in the meeting: Punjab to procure 115 lakh tonnes, Chattisgarh (48 lakh tonnes), Uttar Pradesh (37 lakh tonnes), Haryana and Odisha (30 lakh tonnes each), Andhra Pradesh is 25 lakh tonnes and West Bengal (23 lakh tonnes), an official statement said. The Centre reviewed with states the kind of arrangements been put in place for procurement of paddy in producing states, particularly in decentralised procurement states and other non-traditional states.

Source: dna July 27, 2017 14:48 UTC