<span style="color: #222222;">In Bihar, over 30 lakh metric tonne of paddy has been procured from farmers of the state this season. In February last year, paddy procurement was only 4.64 metric tonnes. Four thousand eight hundred 71 crores have been paid to over four lakh farmers for procurement of paddy this year. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has instructed district authorities to speed up procurement. February 21 is the last date for procurement of paddy. The state government has set a target to buy 45 lakh metric tonne paddy from farmers. </span><br />