In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, Government continuesto procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes

Paddy procurement for Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States and UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala and Gujarat with purchase of over 179.827 LMTs of paddy upto 28.10.2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of143.47LMTshowing an increase of 25.34% over lastyear. Out of the total purchase of 179.83  LMT,  Punjab  alone  has contributed 122.22 LMT which translates to 67.97 % of total procurement.

        About 15.12 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement  Operations with MSP value of Rs. 33951.35crore.

Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 45.10 LMT 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 LMT 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 procuringagencies.

Upto 28.10.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 3511.63 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs.20.49 Crores benefitting 2414 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana. Similarly, 5089 MT of copra (the perennial crop) having MSP value of Rs. 52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. 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.

Procurement operations of seed cotton (Kapas) under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Till 28.10.2020 a quantity of 490689 cotton bales valuing Rs.143769 lakh has been procured benefitting 93167farmers.

*****

APS