The arrival of Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21 has already commenced and the Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at minimum support price (MSP) from farmers as per its existing MSP as done in previous seasons, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has said.
According to the Ministry, paddy procurement for 2020-21 is going on smoothly across the procuring states. As on October 04, 2020, cumulative procurement of paddy in KMS 2020-21 has been 800,389 metric tonnes. The total number of farmers benefited are 62,518 and total MSP outflow so far has been Rs 1511.135 crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the states, approval was accorded for procurement of 28.40 lakh metric tonnes of pulses and oilseeds for Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat and Haryana and 1.23 LMT of copra (the perennial crop) for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. For other states and union territories, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra under Price Support Scheme (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 by the Central nodal agencies through state nominated procuring agencies, the Ministry has informed.
According to the Ministry data, upto October 04, 2020, the Government through its nodal agencies has procured 103.40 MT of moong having MSP value of Rs.74 lakh benefitting 85 farmers in Tamil Nadu and Haryana. 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 against the sanctioned quantity of 1.23 LMT for Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In respect of milling and ball copra, rates are ruling above MSP. Respective state governments are making arrangements for commencement of procurement in respect of moong. In respect of urad and copra, the market prices are ruling at or above MSP,
The procurement of cotton seeds (Kapas) during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 has also started from October 1, 2020. Upto October 4, 2020, Cotton Corporation of India has procured 147 bales under MSP for the value of Rs 40.80 lakh benefiting 29 farmers of Haryana, the Ministry has further said.
