TNN

Lucknow: Paddy procurement in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in a phased manner across the western and eastern regions during the Kharif marketing year. In western UP, procurement will begin on Oct 1 and continue till Jan 31, 2026, covering the divisions of Meerut, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Agra, Aligarh, and Jhansi, along with Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Sitapur districts of the Lucknow division.

In eastern Uttar Pradesh, procurement will start on Nov 1 and continue till Feb 28, 2026. It will cover the divisions of Chitrakoot, Kanpur, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Devipatan, Basti, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Prayagraj, as well as Lucknow, Rae Bareli, and Unnao districts of the Lucknow division.

As of Sept 30 (Tuesday), more than 23,500 farmers have registered for procurement. An OTP-based single registration system has been introduced, allowing farmers to register easily through their mobile phones. Procurement will be carried out only from registered farmers, and payments will be transferred directly to their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts within 48 hours, a state government spokesperson said.

To ensure transparency and eliminate middlemen, paddy procurement at centres will be done through biometric verification using e-POP (Electronic Point of Purchase) devices. Procurement centres will function from 9am to 5pm daily.

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy this year increased, with Rs 2,369 per quintal for the common variety and Rs 2,389 per quintal for Grade A.

Published Date: October 2, 2025