Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes as was done in previous seasons.

Paddy procurement for KMS 2020-21 has gained good  omentum now with procurement crossing One Crore Metric Ton (MT) mark with purchase of over 106.88 Lac MT from 9.37 Lac farmers of 7 procuring   States/UTs   valuing more than  ₹20180.50 Crore    at Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs18880 per MT. Paddy procurement during corresponding period of KMS 2019-20 was 84.88 LMT. Therefore procurement in current season exceeds procurement in previous season by 25.92%.

Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 42.46 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 procuring agencies.

Upto 20.10.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 863.39 MT of Moong and Urad having MSP value of Rs.6.02 Crores benefitting 819 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra 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.

Cotton procurement operations under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Till 20.10.2020, a quantity of 236748 cotton bales valuing Rs.66842.28 lakh has been procured benefitting 46706 farmers as against 2335 bales procured during corresponding period of last year.

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APS/SG