PRAYAGRAJ, March 2 -- A record 2.88 lakh metric tonnes of paddy procurement against the target of 2.73 lakh metric tonnes (105% of the target) has been achieved in Prayagraj district this financial year, said district food and marketing officer Avinash Chandra Sagarwal. The procurement process commenced on November 1 last year and concluded on February 28 this year, he added. During the same period last year, 2.73 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was procured, while in the financial year 2023-24, the figure stood at 2.10 lakh metric tonnes. The consistent increase in procurement highlights the district's growing efficiency and outreach among farmers, officials say. According to Sagarwal, 177 procurement centres were established this year-11 more than last year's 161 centres. Officials say a key highlight of this year's procurement drive was the prompt payment system. Farmers received direct payments into their bank accounts within 48 hours of selling their produce. By the final date of procurement, a total of Rs.66,338.45 lakh had been directly transferred to the bank accounts of 47,714 farmers in the district. To streamline the process and eliminate middlemen, the government implemented an OTP-based single registration system. Payments were made directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, ensuring transparency and efficiency....