Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per 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, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Karnataka, and West Bengal with purchase of over 598.43 LMTs of paddy up to January 30, 2021.
This is an increase of 18.10% against the last year corresponding purchase of 506.71LMT. Out of the total purchase of 598.43 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 202.77 LMT which is 33.88% of total procurement, according to a PIB release. About 87.20 lakh farmers have already benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs 1,12,983.55 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 51.92 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 for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala was also given. Further, based on the concerned State Govt. proposals, the sanction for procurement of 2.50 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Rabi Marketing Season 2020-2021 for the States of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, 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 January 30, 2021, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 3,04,625.51 MT of Moong, Urad, Tur, Groundnut Pods and Soybean having MSP value of Rs 1,637 Crores benefitting 1,64,589 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, 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 January 30, 2021. At present, 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 of 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 January 30, 2021,altogether 89,84,754 cotton bales valuing Rs 26,276.92 Crore has been procured benefitting 18,51,344 farmers.