MSP buying of Paddy begins in all states
New Delhi: Amid widespread farmers’ protest against the new farm laws, the Centre on Monday came out with the latest data of paddy procurement in the last 48 hours to allay any apprehensions over the minimum support price (MSP) buying.
With the latest procurement data, the government aims to send a clear message – it has no intention of scrapping the MSP and that it has put in a mechanism for procurement of not only summer-sown paddy but also pulses and oilseeds this year.
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana and several other states are protesting against new farm laws which they feel will lead to procurement in the hands of corporates and the end of the MSP regime.
“About 5,637 tonnes of paddy at MSP of Rs 1,868 per quintal has been procured from farmers of Haryana and Punjab till September 27. The procurement of paddy for the remaining states commenced from today,” the Union Agriculture Ministry said.
Paddy worth Rs 10.53 crore MSP value has been procured from 390 farmers of Haryana and Punjab in the last 48 hours, it said in a statement.
Paddy procurement in the ongoing 2020-21 Kharif Marketing Season has just started from September 26.
The government has kept a rice procurement target of 495.37 lakh tonnes in the 2020-21 kharif marketing season.