The Uttar Pradesh government officially begins its paddy procurement process on October 01, 2024 in the western districts of the state, including Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Sitapur. The procurement is part of the Kharif marketing season 2024-25, with the state offering a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,300 per quintal and Rs 2,320 per quintal for grade 'A' paddy. Additionally, farmers will receive Rs 20 per quintal for unloading, sieving, and cleaning the paddy.
A total of 4,000 purchase centres have been established statewide by the Food and Civil Supplies Department and other agencies to facilitate smooth procurement. Payments to farmers will be processed within 48 hours, as directed by the UP government. Registration for paddy sales, which began on September 1, has already seen over 32,000 farmers sign up.
The procurement process will occur in phases, with western districts commencing today, and eastern districts, including Lucknow, Rae Bareli, and Unnao, scheduled to start on November 1. The process will run until January 31, 2025, covering key divisions like Meerut, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Agra, Aligarh, and Jhansi.
According to the Agriculture Department, around 61.24 lakh hectares are dedicated to paddy cultivation this season, with an estimated production of 265.54 lakh metric tonnes and an average yield of 43.36 quintals per hectare.
