The central government has hit a new record by spending Rs 1.65 lakh crore for procuring a massive 873.68 lakh tonnes of paddy in the 2020-21 marketing year ending September.

“About 129.03 lakh farmers have already been benefited from the ongoing KMS (Kharif Marketing Season) procurement operations with MSP value of Rs 1,64,951.77 crore,” an official release from the government read, as reported by the Economic Times.

The centre has bought 707.69 lakh tonnes and 165.99 lakh tonnes of Kharif and Rabi crops respectively totaling 873.65 lakh tonnes of paddy till 23^rd August in the ongoing marketing year. This surpasses the 763.01 lakh tonnes of paddy that was purchased in the corresponding time period last year.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the Rabi marketing season 2021-22 has rounded up in the states from where wheat is procured.

433.44 lakh tonnes of wheat was acquired till 18^th August, which crossed the 389.93 lakh tonnes mark of the same on a year-on-year (YoY) basis.

“About 49.20 lakh farmers have already been benefited from the ongoing RMS procurement operations with MSP value of Rs 85,603.57 crore,” the government’s statement further revealed.

These record procurements come amidst the long-drawn farmers’ protests continuing in and around the national capital since late last year.