Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes, in the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21, Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 has progressed smoothly in the procuring States and UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jharkhand with purchase of over 422.01 LMTs of paddy up to 21st December 2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of 346.10 LMT showing an increase of 1.93% over last year. Out of the total purchase of 422.01 LMT, Punjab alone has purchased 202.77 LMT till the close of procurement season in the state on 30th November 2020 which is 48.05% of total procurement in the country.
About 50.77 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs79,675.58 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 51.66 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.
Up to 21st December 2020, the Government through its nodal agencies has procured 2,09,700.17 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soya bean having MSP value of Rs1123.62 Crores benefitting 1,15,432 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan.
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 up to 21st December 2020 as against the last year corresponding purchase of 293.34 MT of copra. 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 Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 21st December 2020, 6069485 cotton bales valuing Rs.17,772.90 Crore has been procured benefitting 11,74,689 farmers.
