Govt’s Kharif paddy procurement nears 59 million tonnes

Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per existing MSP schemes, as was done in the previous seasons, a government release stated.

Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in 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.

Total paddy purchases have crossed 58.76 million tonnes up to 25 January 2021, which is an increase of 20.28 per cent against the last year corresponding purchase of 48.85 million tonnes. 

Out of the total purchase of 58.76 million tonnes, Punjab alone has contributed 20.28 million tonnes, which is 34.51 per cent of total procurement, the release pointed out.

Also, based on the proposal from the states, approval has been accorded for procurement of 5.19 million tonnes 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 lakh tonnes of copra (the perennial crop) for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has also been given, says the release. 

Further, based on proposals by state governments, sanction for procurement of 2.50 lakh tonnes of pulse and oilseeds of Rabi Marketing Season 2020-2021 for the states of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, has also been given. Proposals from other states will also be accorded approval 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.

Government through its nodal agencies has so far procured 3,01,124.83 tonnes of moong, urad, tur, groundnut pods and soybean having MSP value of Rs1,622.29 crores, benefitting 1,62,120 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Similarly, 5,089 onnes of copra (the perennial crop) having MSP value of Rs52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3,961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu  (up to 25 January 2021). 

At present, in respect of copra and urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing states. The respective state/UT 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, the release stated.

Procurement operations of seed cotton (Kapas) under MSP are going on smoothly in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 25 January 2021 88,43,412 bales of cotton, valued at Rs25,825.34 crore has been procured, benefitting 18,13,288 farmers, the release added.