TAD NewsDesk, New Delhi: According to reports by Union food ministry, the government’s paddy procurement at the minimum support price in less than a month has increased to 28.55 percent which mounts to 116.66 lakh tonne as compared to the year ago same period. The maximum procurement has been done from Punjab.
Paddy acquisition started in Punjab and Haryana from 26th of September as crops arrived early while in other states it commenced from 1st of October.
Paddy crop is grown mostly in the Kharif season, around 80% of the paddy production is done in this season. The government by means of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies undertakes this process of acquiring the paddy crops under the MSP.
The ministry said in a statement,
“Paddy procurement in the 2020-21 Kharif marketing season is continuing smoothly in the procuring states of Punjab, Haryana, UP, TN, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, J&K and Kerala.”
It also added,
“Out of the total purchase of 116.66 lakh tonnes, Punjab alone has contributed 75.11 lakh tonne, which is 64.38 per cent of total procurement.”
Till now, paddy has been acquired from 10.09 lakh farmers at the MSP value of Rs 22, 026.26 crores.
The government is also buying other crops like pulses and oilseeds at MSP under the price support scheme (PSS). It will come under effect when the market price falls below the support price.
The centre has agreed to procure 43.24 lakh tonnes of Kharif pulses and oilseeds this year under the PSS scheme from 10 states.
This step by the government to provide a clearer picture of procurement of crops has been taken to show the farmers protesting against the new laws that they are not intending to pressurize or hamper them in any way. The MSP would stay and so will be the government’s procurement of crops.
