Rice procurement down marginally to 25.57 mn tonne

Procurement of rice declined by one per cent to 25.57 million tonnes so far in 2010-11 season that started in October last year compared to a year-ago. 

Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of rice and wheat, had procured 25.80 million tonne of rice as on April 12, 2010.     

Repeating last year's feat, procurement of rice from Punjab was the highest so far in the ongoing season. Punjab contributed 8.63 million tonnes to the central pool in the current season against 9.28 million tonnes in the same period last year.    

Andhra Pradesh, the second highest contributor, procured 4.26 million tonne rice so far against 3.93 million tonnes in the year ago period.     

Chhattisgarh contributed 3.5 million tonne to the kitty, up from 3.03 million tonne in the year-ago period, the official statement said.     

Procurement from Orissa dipped to 1.56 million tonne during the period under review from 1.82 million tonne in the corresponding period one year ago. FCI had procured 32 million tonne of rice during the entire 2009-10 marketing year (October-September).     

According to Agriculture Ministry's latest projection, the country is expected to produce 94.11 million tonne of rice in 2010-11 crop year as against 89.09 million tonne last year.