In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, 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 Kharif 2020-21 is progressing well in the procuring States and UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala and Gujarat with purchase of over 159.55 LMTs of paddy upto 26.10.2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of 134.52 LMT which is an increase of 18.61 % over last year. Out of the total purchase of 159.55 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 107.81 LMT which is 67.57 % of total procurement.

About 13.64 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement operations with MSP value of Rs. 30123.73 crore.

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 (theperennialcrop) for the States of Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka,Tamil Naduand

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 26.10.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 1543.11 MT of Moong, Urad and Groundnut Pods having MSP value of Rs.10.08 Crores benefitting 1247 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.

Seed    cotton    (Kapas)    procurement operations    under    MSP    are    going on smoothly in the States of Punjab Haryana, Rajasthan    and Madhya Pradesh. Till 26.10.2020 a quantityof 398683 cotton balesvaluing Rs.117675 lakhhas been procured benefitting 76512 farmers.

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APS