Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS), the Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per existing MSP Schemes as was done in previous seasons.
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, West Bengal, and Tripura with purchase of over 622.20 LMTs of paddy up to February 9, 2021.This is an increase of 17.35 % against the corresponding purchase last year of 530.18 LMT.
Out of the total purchase of 622.20 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 202.82 LMT which is 32.59% of total procurement, according to a PIB release. The MSP value for the quantity of paddy procured up to February 9, 2021, is Rs 1,17,471.72 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 (the perennial crop) for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala was also given.
Further, based on the concerned State Govt. proposals, sanction for procurement of 15.87 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Rabi Marketing Season 2020-2021 for the States of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh 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 February 9, 2021, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 3,08,989.79 MT of Moong, Urad, Tur, Groundnut Pods, and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs 1,663.92 Crore benefitting 1,67,523 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 February 9, 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 February 9, 2021, a quantity of 91,13,280 cotton bales valuing Rs 26,583.38 crore has been procured benefitting 18,85,011 farmers.