Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, the Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP 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, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pardesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar with purchase of over 380.18 LMTs of paddy up to December 14, 2020, against the last year corresponding purchase of 314.42 LMT showing an increase of 20.91 % over last year.
Out of the total purchase of 380.18 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 202.77 LMT which is 53.33% of total procurement, according to a PIB release. About 41.72 lakh farmers have already benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs 71,778.79 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 48.11 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 to the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme (PSS).
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 December 14, 2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 1,64,363.11 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods, and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs. 882.73 Crore benefitting 92,009 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
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 December 14, 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.