The government has surpassed its last year rice procurement record of 284.93 lakh tonnes, by achieving a new record purchase of 287.70 lakh tonnes, with more quantities expected to come via the tariff route from the rice mills. Going by the data compiled by the FCI - Food Corporation of India - rice procurement in the equivalent period of the earlier marketing season stood at 242.26 lakh tonnes.

According to the government officials, the high procurement of rice, which surpassed the government's 280 lakh tonnes target during last week, resulted both from bumper crop yield estimates as well as better support price. For the current season, the Centre estimates rice yield figures to touch 100 million tonnes.

By far, the rice procurement from Punjab, which has reached 85.06 lakh tonnes till now, has been the maximum; even though the state contributed only 737 tonnes to the Central pool yesterday. Following Punjab on the procurement list is Andhra Pradesh in second place, with 63 lakh tonnes; and, subsequently, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa with 36.0 4 lakh tonnes, 25.50 lakh tonnes and 20.60 lakh tonnes respectively.

For 2008-09, the MSP - Minimum Support Price - of rice was Rs 850 for the common variety and Rs 880 for 'Grade A,' with the government later announcing a bonus of Rs 50 above the MSP.