NAKODAR:The total purchase of paddy by the state government and private agencies from farmers crossed 7.73 lakhs quintals on Wednesday, more than last year’s total purchase of 722310 quintals in grain markets under the jurisdiction of the Mehat Pur market committee. Committee secretary Surjit Singh Khehra said the government agencies are aiming at purchasing close to 8 lakhs quintals of paddy with expectations of bumper paddy crop adding that 7.22 Lakhs quintals of paddy have been lifted and payments to farmers have been cleared unto October 25.