40 lakh tonnes of paddy procured in Punjab, Haryana

October 7th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Over 610,000 tonnes of paddy has been procured by public and private agencies in Punjab so far, food and supplies department officials said Wednesday. Nearly 94 percent of all paddy arrivals in the state has been procured by government agencies - five of the Punjab government as well as the central government's Food Corporation of India (FCI).

October 1st, 2009 CHANDIGARH - More paddy is arriving in grain markets in Haryana compared to neighbouring Punjab. Officials of the food and supplies department of Haryana said 161,345 tonnes of paddy had arrived in the state till Wednesday evening.

September 25th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - In the absence of government procurement, paddy farmers in Punjab are selling their produce at lesser price to private traders. "The government should buy our produce at their prices, which are better.

September 22nd, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Amid all the talk of drought-like conditions in many parts of the country this year, Punjab is targeting a record paddy procurement this season. The state government would procure 140 lakh tonnes of paddy for the central pool during current season, senior food and supplies department officials said here Tuesday.

August 15th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect Saturday marked Independence Day by planting millions of saplings in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and the union territory of Chandigarh. Till now, more than 50 lakh (5 million) plants of different species have been planted.

August 15th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect Saturday marked the Independence Day by planting a staggering 68 lakh trees in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and the union territory of Chandigarh. "Followers of Dera Sacha Sauda have planted nearly 68 lakh plants of different species on a single day.

August 4th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Having drawn power from other states and agencies to meet the increased requirement of its farming community during paddy plantation this year, the Haryana government now wants the central government to foot the bill of Rs.1,000 crore. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, in a communication to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday, sought a special relief package of Rs.1,000 crore to compensate the state power utilities for the costly purchase of additional power for sowing of the paddy crop.

July 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - There is no reason to panic over the inadequate rains in the country for the meteorological department has predicted good monsoon in August, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said Saturday. Replying to a special discussion on drought conditions in the country in the Lok Sabha, Pawar said except paddy crop, whose area of cultivation had fallen drastically, the figures for rest of the major crops in the country were comparable to the corresponding period last year.

July 1st, 2009 SHIMLA - Punjab and Haryana have started getting more electricity from Himachal Pradesh from Wednesday, say officials. "Now, Punjab will get an additional 10 lakh units and Haryana four lakh units daily till the month-end," said Suneel Grover, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board's director of generation.

June 24th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Food grain production, especially of paddy, will be badly hit this year in Punjab if the monsoon was delayed further and the heat wave continued, agriculture experts here say. Punjab's agriculture department officials said though the panic button had not been pressed yet, paddy plantation could take a beating if the rains failed, especially given the acute water and power crisis in the state.

May 12th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Wheat procurement in Punjab and Haryana has achieved a historic record this season. Both states have jointly procured over 17.6 million tonnes of wheat so far.

May 12th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Wheat procurement in Punjab and Haryana has achieved a historic record this season. Both states have jointly procured over 17.6 million tonnes of wheat so far.

May 6th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Wheat procurement in Punjab has touched an all-time high - higher than the target of 10.05 million tonnes set by the government agencies this year, the chief minister's office said here Wednesday. A record 10.06 million tonnes of wheat was procured by Punjab and central government procurement agencies till Tuesday evening, officials said.

April 30th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Over 10.1 million tonnes of wheat has been procured in Punjab this season, a record in recent years, food and supplies officials said here Thursday. The officials said the record procurement till Wednesday evening had been achieved in just over 20 days this year.

April 24th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The Punjab government has released over Rs.85 billion as payment to farmers for wheat procurement, considered one of the largest such exercise in the world. 'The procurement process is going on quite smoothly.