Kharif rice procurement up over 19% at 24.31 million tonnes

A government release said paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly. Out of the total purchase of 24.31 million tonnes, Punjab alone contributed 17.11 million tonnes, which is 70.37 per cent of the total procurement.

About 2.05 million farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement operations with MSP value of Rs45,902.32 crore.

The centre, based on the proposal from the states, also approved procurement of 4.51 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). 

Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 lakh tonnes of copra (the perennial crop) for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala 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 6 November, the government through its nodal agencies has procured  31,927.09 tonnes of moong, urad, groundnut pods and soyabean having MSP value of Rs171.25 crores benefitting 18,886 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan as against the corresponding purchase of 16,633.39 tonnes last year, which is an increase of 91.95 per cent for pulses and oilseeds, the release pointed out.

Similarly, 5,089 tonnes of copra having MSP value of Rs52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3,961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu up to 6 November as against the corresponding purchase of 293.34 tonnes of copra last year. 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 in respect of Kharif pulses and oilseeds, the release stated.

Procurement operations of cotton seed (Kapas) under MSP are going on smoothly in the Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Till 6 November a quantity of 9,88,719 cotton bales valued at Rs2,859.25 crore has been procured benefitting 1,90,910 farmers, it added.