Government engages more agencies for pulses, oilseeds procurement

The government today announced the nomination of National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India Ltd (NCCF), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) as also other public sector undertaking and cooperatives as central agencies for procurement of oilseeds and pulses, in addition to NAFED, under the price support scheme (PSS).

NCCF is a national level consumer cooperative supplying goods to consumer cooperatives and distributing agencies at reasonable and affordable rates while CWC has a strong network of storage facilities.

The government expects the involvement of other public sector undertakings /cooperatives in the procurement operation to ensure minimum support price to the farmers for their produce under PSS, in an effective manner.

NAFED, a national level cooperative marketing organisation, has been the central nodal agency for procurement of oilseeds and pulses under PSS since 1976-77. NAFED was also the additional agency for procurement of cotton during the 2004-05 kharif season.

The government expects its various initiatives such as National Food Security Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, Accelerated Pulses Production Programme, Integrated Scheme of Oil seeds, Pulses, Oil PaIm and Maize to bring significant increase in the production of oil seeds and pulses in the country.

Increase in the number of agencies will improve and strengthen the procurement operation under the price support scheme and create a more competitive environment for procurement operations, resulting in better service quality and cost reduction for the government, the release said.