Chandigarh, Nov 13 (IANS): Despite deficit rainfall, food grain states Punjab and Haryana have got another bumper paddy crop this year. Both have recorded procurement of over 182 lakh tonnes, much more than last year.

Punjab has recorded higher procurement of 130 lakh tonnes compared to last year's 118 lakh tonnes, food and supplies department officials said here on Friday.

Farmers in the state have been released payment of over Rs 14,463 crore so far, a department spokesman said.

Paddy procurement in Punjab started on October 1. It hopes to procure 137 tonnes of padd, up from 118 tonnes in 2014.

Over 95 percent of the paddy has been procured by government agencies.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had sanctioned Rs.18,972 crore for paddy procurement in Punjab this season.

Sangrur and Ludhiana districts have led the state in paddy procurement.

Neighbouring Haryana has seen arrival of over 52 lakh tonnes of paddy against the target of 37 lakh tonnes set for this season.