Chandigarh, Nov 26 (IANS): Food grain states Punjab and Haryana have procured nearly 179 lakh tonnes of paddy this season, food and supplies officials in both states said Tuesday.

Out of this, nearly 127 lakh tonnes have been procured in Punjab while over 52 lakh tonnes procured in Haryana.

Over 95 percent of the paddy arrival has been procured by government agencies in Punjab, while the rest has been bought by private rice millers and traders.

Sangrur, Ludhiana and Patiala districts were leading in paddy procurement, the officials said.

In neighbouring Haryana, over 52.07 lakh tonnes of paddy have so far arrived in the various grain markets, officials said. This is higher than the paddy procurement of 49.08 lakh tonnes in the same period last year.

Government agencies in Haryana have procured nearly 35.7 lakh tonnes paddy this year. The rest has been procured by rice millers and traders.

Karnal, Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts were leading in paddy arrivals.

Procurement of paddy in both states started Oct 1.