Rice procurement dips marginally this season so far

New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) The government has procured 25.46 million tonnes (MT) of rice for the central pool so far in the 2010-11 season, ending September, down 1 per cent as compared to the year-ago period.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) had purchased 25.69 MT in the year-ago period, it said in its latest data.

FCI had procured 32 MT of rice in the entire 2009-10 marketing year.

The government agencies were able to buy more rice in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh so far, it said.

In Andhra Pradesh, rice procurement has risen to 4.21 MT so far, against 3.9 MT in the year-ago period.

Rice purchase in Tamil Nadu till yesterday stood at 1.16 MT till yesterday as against 8.81 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period.

In contrast, the government rice purchases in Uttar Pradesh fell to 2.21 MT so far from 2.57 MT in the review period, it said.

Likewise, in Orissa rice procurement declined to 1.55 MT so far as against 1.82 MT in the review period, it added.

In Punjab, rice procurement stood at 8.63 MT so far as against 9.28 MT in the corresponding period last year, it said.

(Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/rice-procurement-dips-marginally-season-far-20110411-035800-403.html)