NEW DELHI: The Center said on Tuesday that 16,420 tonnes of rice were purchased with a value of Rs 31 million at the minimum support price (MSP) in the last 72 hours from farmers in Punjab and Haryana, while the acquisition has just started in other states.
With the latest procurement data, the government aims to send a message to farmers protesting against the new agricultural laws it has no intention of eliminating acquisitions at MSP.
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana and several other states are protesting against the new farm laws, which they believe will lead to corporate takeovers and the end of the MSP regime.
The Union Ministry of Agriculture, in a statement, said the arrival of kharif crops it has just started and the government continues to procure 2020-21 kharif crops such as rice at the MSP from farmers under existing schemes.
Acquisition of rice It started from September 26 in Punjab and Haryana, while it started on September 28 in other states.
In Punjab and Haryana alone, some 16,420 tonnes of rice have been purchased at the retail price of Rs 1,888 per quintal as of September 28, for a total of Rs 31 million, it reported.
Of this, about 3,164 tonnes of rice were bought in Haryana, while in Punjab 13,256 tonnes were bought from 1,443 farmers, it added.
For the current year, the government has set the retail price for rice (common grade) at Rs 1,868 per quintal, while that of quality A variety has been set at Rs 1,888 per quintal.
The government has also agreed to purchase 14.09 lakh tonnes of kharif legumes and oilseeds for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Haryana under the Price Support Scheme (PSS).
Approval to other states will be granted upon receipt of the proposal under the PSS, which will be put into effect if mandi prices fall below the MSP in the notified harvest period, according to the statement.
As of September 29, the government, through its nodal agencies, has acquired 46.35 tons of moong worth 33 lakhs in MSP, benefiting 48 farmers in Tamil Nadu.
Similarly, MSP purchased 5,089 tonnes of copra (the perennial crop) worth Rs 52.40 million, benefiting 3,961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The cotton acquisition will start from October 1, he added.
On video: amid protests, more than 16,400 tons of rice purchased from Punjab MSP, Haryana – government
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