Government Disburses ₹4,820 Crore to 2.75 Lakh Farmers for Pulse Procurement under MSP Initiative
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New Delhi, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Centre has successfully procured 6.41 lakh metric tonnes of pulses during the 2023-24 rabi season, amounting to an MSP value of ₹4,820 crore, benefiting 2.75 lakh farmers, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on Wednesday.
The procurement aimed at supporting farmers included 2.49 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of masoor, 43,000 MT of chana, and 3.48 LMT of moong.
Additionally, 12.19 LMT of oilseeds with a total MSP value of ₹6,900 crore were procured from 5.29 lakh farmers. At the beginning of the current Kharif season, soyabean prices were significantly below the MSP, causing severe challenges for farmers. Thanks to the intervention by the Centre through the PSS scheme (part of PM AASHA), a record 5.62 lakh LMT of soyabean has been procured at an MSP value of ₹2,700 crore as of December 11, benefiting 2.42 lakh farmers.
Data from the procurement since 2018-19 reveals that approximately 195.39 LMT of pulses, oilseeds, and copra have been procured with an MSP value of ₹10.74 lakh crore, benefiting 99.3 lakh farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan” (PM-AASHA) scheme.
The government is also advocating for a Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) for oilseeds, designed to guarantee profitable prices to oilseed producers whose MSPs are set by the Centre. The PDPS allows for direct payments of the price difference between MSP and market selling prices, up to 15 percent of MSP value for pre-registered farmers selling oilseeds, as stated by officials.
Another key aspect of PM AASHA is the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), which targets perishable agricultural goods like tomato, onion, and potato, collectively known as TOP crops not included under MSP. This initiative is set to greatly benefit farmers of these sensitive crops and consumers alike. The scheme is activated at the request of state or UT governments when market prices drop by at least 10 percent compared to the previous normal season rates.
Under MIS, instead of physical procurement, states may opt for a differential payment between the market intervention price and the selling price, covering 25 percent of the crop production and a maximum price difference of 25 percent of MIP. Furthermore, for TOP crops, where discrepancies exist between producing and consuming states, the government will reimburse operational costs incurred by Central nodal agencies (CNAs) such as NAFED and NCCF for storing and transporting crops from producing areas to consuming states.
Moreover, there is a notable price imbalance for these crops—producers face significantly lower prices compared to much higher prices in consuming states. This scheme is crucial for bridging this price gap and mitigating the impact of price volatility, the statement concluded.
