Rice procurement at record 31.6 MT

The government has bought a record 31.6 million tonnes (MT) of rice in the current procurement season so far, up from 24.4 MT a year ago, Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas told the Rajya Sabha on Friday. He said since sowing of paddy crop was still in progress, estimate for rice procurement was yet to be finalised. According to government data, sowing of paddy as on July 9 was 7.43 million hectares.