Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes.
Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra with purchase of 297.51 LMTs of paddy up to November 21, 2020, against the last year corresponding purchase of 252.69 LMT showing an increase of 17.73 % over last year. Out of the total purchase of 297.51 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 201.73 LMT which is 67.80 % of total procurement, according to a PIB release.
About 26.15 lakh farmers have already benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs 56,168.95 Crore. Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 45.10 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme (PSS).
The sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra (the perennial crop) for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds, and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.
Up to November 21, 2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 67,045.66 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs 362.43 Crore benefitting 38,892 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, and Rajasthan as against the last year corresponding purchase of 65,850.05 MT, an increase of 1.82% for pulses and oilseeds.
Similarly, 5,089 MT of copra having MSP value of Rs 52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3,961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu up to November 21, 2020, as against the last year corresponding purchase of 293.34 MT of copra. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.
Procurement operations of seed cotton (Kapas) under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Karnataka. Till November 21, 2020, altogether 21,02,116 cotton bales valuing Rs 6,440.28 crore has been procured benefitting 4,19,634 farmers.