Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: Paddy procurement in Jharkhand has picked up pace, with the state government purchasing 55,766.11 quintals of paddy within the first two days of the procurement drive, against a total target of 60 lakh quintals for the season.
Procurement at ₹2,450 Per Quintal Across 801 Centres
The procurement drive began on December 15, and by Tuesday evening, paddy had been purchased at a rate of ₹2,450 per quintal, up from ₹2,400 last year. A total of 2,51,935 farmers have registered under the scheme so far, and SMS notifications have been sent to 10,914 farmers. The state has operationalised 801 paddy procurement centres to facilitate purchases across districts.
Past Shortfalls Due to Drought and Farmer Apathy
Officials noted that Jharkhand failed to achieve its procurement targets over the past three years. In the 2022–23 and 2023–24 financial years, drought-like conditions and farmer reluctance significantly impacted procurement, with only about 29 percent of the annual target achieved in each year. In 2024–25, procurement improved to 40.8 lakh quintals, accounting for 67 percent of the target.
District-Wise Procurement Figures Released
Hazaribagh leads with 9,558.93 quintals, followed by Koderma with 7,439.02 quintals and Giridih with 5,350.66 quintals. Other major contributors include Ranchi (3,849.47), Latehar (3,491.47), Ramgarh (3,422.51), Lohardaga (3,031.30), and Jamtara (2,841.72). Districts such as Sahibganj, Dumka, and West Singhbhum reported comparatively lower procurement figures.
