New Delhi: To help farmers during the lockdown period, procurement of notified commodities at Minimum Support Price (MSP) has started in several states in the Rabi season.
The Union India, which has been trying to ensure better returns for farmers, is facilitating the process through Central Nodal Agencies like NAFED and FCI, by strictly observing the guidelines issued to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
The procurement of pulses and oilseeds at MSP from farmers under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) scheme in Rabi 2020-21 season has started in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Till Thursday, 1,14,338 farmers have benefited as 1,33,987.65 MT of pulses and 29,264.17 MT of oilseeds was procured by NAFED/FCI at a value of Rs 784.77 crores. Also, 97,337.35 MT of Rabi pulses and oilseeds have been procured under PSS scheme.
Toor is being procured from farmers by NAFED at MSP under Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) scheme. Also under way is toor procurement under PSS/PSF Kharif 2019- 20 season in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.
In Rajasthan, procurement of pulses and oilseeds in Kota Division was stopped after announcement of lockdown. But it has restarted in 54 centres in Kota division from Wednesday.
