<span style="color: #222222;">Paddy procurement for Kharif Marketing Season  2022-23  is progressing smoothly and over 702 Lakh Metric Tonnes of paddy have been procured so far. <br />''<br />''More than 96 Lakh farmers have been benefitted from the ongoing procurement operations with an MSP outflow of one lakh 45 thousand 845 crore rupees.<br />''<br />'' The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and  Public Distribution in a statement said, adequate rice stock is currently available in the Central Pool for meeting the requirements of the country. <br />''<br />''It said, for the Kharif crop of the current Kharif Marketing Season  2022-23, around 765 Lakh Metric Tonnes of  Paddy has been estimated to be procured as against 749 Lakh Metric Tonnes procured during last season.</span><br />