India rice procurement crosses 10 mn tonnes so far

The Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of food grains, has procured over 10 million tonnes of rice since October. "Rice procurement as on today stands at 100,83,026 tonnes," according to an official statement. The government had procured similar quantity of rice in the year-ago period. FCI and other state agencies have purchased 8.28 million tonnes from Punjab, 1.6 million tonnes from Haryana so far in 2010-11 marketing season (October-September). The rest has been purchased from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. The government''s rice procurement had declined in 2009-10 marketing season by seven per cent to 31.45 million tonnes due to a sharp fall in production by about 10 million tonnes, on account of a widespread drought in 2009. However, FCI officials are expecting better procurement this year as rice output is estimated to increase in 2010-11 crop year. In Kharif season, the country''s rice output is estimated at 80.41 million tonnes against 75.91 million tonnes in Kharif season last year. The sowing of rabi crops are in process.