Agriculture Minister Calls for States to Uphold MSP for Farm Produce
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Synopsis
On March 27, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the need for state governments to ensure that farm produce is not bought below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the Centre, aiming to boost farmers' incomes. He outlined procurement plans for various crops through 2028-29.
Key Takeaways
- MSP Enforcement: States must ensure farm produce is not sold below MSP.
- Long-term Procurement: 100% of tur, urad, and masoor production procured till 2028-29.
- Farmer Benefits: Ongoing procurement has already aided 171,569 farmers.
- Price Support Scheme: Active in multiple states for Kharif 2024-25.
- Extended PM-Asha Yojana: Continues till 2025-26 for pulses and oilseeds.
New Delhi, March 27 (NationPress) The Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has called upon state governments to ensure that no agricultural products are bought for less than the Minimum Support Price (MSP) set by the Central government, with the aim of ensuring increased income for farmers.
He emphasized that 100% of the production of tur (arhar), urad, and masoor will be purchased at the MSP for these crops for the next four years, up to 2028-29, to guarantee farmers higher earnings and help the nation attain self-sufficiency in pulses.
The minister remarked that the farmer-centric government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to improving conditions for farmers by ensuring the purchase of their produce at MSP.
The procurement of tur (arhar) has been authorized in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme for the Kharif 2024-25 season. Additionally, Karnataka has extended the procurement window by 30 days, pushing it to May 1, in favor of farmers.
Chouhan mentioned that procurement is ongoing at MSP through NAFED and NCCF in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, and by March 25, 2025, approximately 2.46 lakh metric tonnes of tur (arhar) have been procured in these regions, benefiting 171,569 farmers. He also noted that the price of tur in Uttar Pradesh is currently above the MSP.
In a similar vein, the procurement of grams, mustard, and lentils has been approved for the Rabi marketing season 2025. The PM-Asha Yojana has been extended until 2025-26, ensuring the purchase of pulses and oilseeds from farmers at MSP. The total approved quantity for grams in 2025 is 27.99 lakh metric tonnes, and for mustard it is 28.28 lakh metric tonnes. Major states involved include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. The total quantity approved for lentils is 9.40 lakh metric tonnes. The minister also mentioned that the procurement of copra (both milling and ball) has been sanctioned in Tamil Nadu. The government has streamlined the registration process for farmers using the NAFED and NCCF portals.
