New Delhi (PTI): The Centre has purchased over 150 lakh tonnes of rice this season till last week and will cross 160 lakh tonnes in a day or two, officials said.

Rice procurement was 159.16 lakh tonnes till last week up by 21 per cent from 131.07 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period, a senior government official said.

Since daily procurement of rice is in the range of 40,000-50,000 tonnes, its purchase would soon cross 160 lakh tonnes, he added. Government purchases paddy from farmers and later on converts it into rice for storage.

Higher rice procurement is significant during the year when election takes place as number of States are demanding hike in allocation of rice under APL quota.

The Centre purchases rice and wheat for the Central Pool through the Food Corporation of India and agencies of state governments as it requires about 275 lakh tonnes of food grains every year for supply under the public distribution system.

In 2007-08 season (October-September), the government had bought a record 284.93 lakh tonnes of rice though the target was 276 lakh tonnes.

On the basis of present arrival and procurement of paddy, officials are hopeful of procuring over 280 lakh tonnes rice.

"Out of 272.48 lakh tonnes of paddy arrived so far this season in different mandis across the country, we have bought 191.57 lakh tonnes, which is over 70 per cent," the official said.

But the paddy procurement has come down from a level of 90 per cent recorded in initial days in terms of percentage of purchase out of arrivals.

To ensure that it does not fall short of the targeted procurement, the Centre has directed rice millers and traders to inform either Food Ministry or the State government if they buy rice more than 10,000 tonnes in the entire season.