By Our Correspondent
Lucknow: Following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directive, paddy procurement in eastern Uttar Pradesh is set to commence on November 1, with scheduled procurement dates across various districts in the Lucknow division.
Beginning November 1, procurement will start in Lucknow, Rae Bareli and Unnao of Lucknow division along with eastern Uttar Pradesh, while procurement in Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Sitapur has been ongoing since October 1.
Highlights
- Paddy procurement to start in Lucknow, Rae Bareli, and Unnao from November 1
- Paddy procurement underway in Western UP since October 1, 4,000 centers operational across UP
- Three districts of Lucknow division already engaged in paddy procurement since October 1
- Minimum Support Price set at Rs 2,300 for paddy, Rs 2,320 for grade A
- Yogi government to begin paddy procurement in eastern UP, ensuring 48-hour payment for farmers
The minimum support price (MSP) has been set at Rs 2,300 per quintal for paddy and Rs 2,320 for Grade A paddy. Additionally, farmers will receive a reimbursement of Rs 20 per quintal for unloading, sieving, and cleaning processes.
To facilitate paddy sales, the state has established approximately 4,000 procurement centers through the Food and Logistics Department and other procurement agencies, ensuring accessible options for farmers across all districts in Uttar Pradesh. These centers will operate daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
The Yogi government has instructed that farmers be paid within 48 hours of selling their paddy. Registration for paddy purchases has been ongoing since September 1, organized by the Food and Logistics Department.
According to the Agriculture Department, paddy crops cover an area of 61.24 lakh hectares this Kharif season, with an estimated production of 265.54 lakh metric tonnes, averaging about 43.36 quintals per hectare.
Paddy procurement in eastern Uttar Pradesh districts is set to begin on November 1, covering the divisions of Chitrakoot, Kanpur, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Devipatan, Basti, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Prayagraj. Lucknow division, including Lucknow, Rae Bareli, and Unnao, will also start procurement on November 1.
In western Uttar Pradesh, paddy procurement, which began on October 1, will continue until January 31, 2025, while the procurement in eastern regions will extend until February 28, 2025.
