By IANS
Chandigarh : The Haryana government made a record payment of Rs. 28.44 billion (Rs. 2,844 crore) to the state's farmers for the wheat it procured from them this 'rabi' season (April-June).
The amount this year is Rs. 12.82 billion more than the payment made in the same season last year when the farmers were paid Rs. 15.61 billion for wheat procurement.
Six government agencies – five from Haryana and one from the central government – procured 33.46 lakh metric tonnes of wheat this season compared to 22.30 metric tonnes procured last year, deputy chief minister Chander Mohan said Monday.
He said that farmers were given payment at the rate of Rs. 850 per quintal, including Rs. 100 per quintal bonus announced by the central government.
Haryana and Punjab together contribute 50 percent of the total foodgrain buffer stock of the country annually.
The procurement of wheat officially ended in Haryana June 15.