Government of Punjab on Monday, October 1, started procurement of paddy in a total of 1,770 notified mandis spread across the state.

Monsoon rains fell just short of the drought level, but farmers in Punjab will achieve a record paddy harvest of more than 135 lakh metric tones - the highest figure so far in the state's history.

Minimum support price for paddy has been increased from Rs 1,080 per quintal lin 2011 to Rs 1,250 per quintal this year. Minimum support price for grade 'A' paddy has been announced at Rs 1,280 per quintal, up from Rs 1,110 per quintal last year.

The Punjab government will spend an estimated Rs 22,509.90 crore for procurement of paddy. Towards that figure, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has alreadyy approved request for cash credit limit of Rs 16,674 crore for October.

Pungrain, Markfed, Punsup have been allotted 37.50 lakh tones, 33 lakh tones, 24.50 lakh tonnes as their shares in procurement, while Punjab State Warehousing Corp, Punjab Agro Industries, and FCI will procure 16.50 lakh tones, 13.50 lakh tones and 15 lakh tones of paddy respectively.

The government has promised that paddy would be lifted from mandies within seventy-two hours of purchase to ensure minimum wastage, though wheat procured in the previous season hasn't been lifted yet.

Punjab Mandi Board and food & civil supplies departments have set up teams for raids to check malpractices. In addition, every mandi has got a dispute redressal committee as well as a round-the-clock control room to help farmers in case of an emergency.