Gandhinagar, April 2 (NationPress) The Gujarat government has prolonged the deadline for buying pigeon pea (tur) daal at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) until April 30.

Under the leadership of state Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel, the purchase period has been extended to ensure that no farmer in the state misses the chance to sell their produce at a fair price.

Minister Patel noted that Gujarat has seen significant sowing and production of pigeon pea this year.

The Union government set an MSP of Rs 7,550 per quintal for 'tur daal' under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA).

Motivated by this attractive price, more than 1.23 lakh farmers in the state registered to sell their crops at MSP.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel initiated the procurement process on February 24 to ensure fair pricing for farmers.

As of now, over 58,300 farmers have sold 1.11 lakh metric tonnes of pigeon pea valued at over Rs 841 crore.

Minister Raghavji Patel highlighted that registered farmers who have not yet sold their produce will have the opportunity to do so by April 30.

This extension is aimed at accommodating all eligible farmers and ensuring that none miss out on the chance for government procurement.

This year, Gujarat has experienced significant farmer engagement in pigeon pea cultivation.

The procurement process, which commenced on February 24, has already benefited over 58,300 farmers, with a total of 1.11 lakh metric tonnes of pigeon pea purchased, resulting in a financial outlay exceeding Rs 841 crore.

To promote domestic pulse production, the Centre has eliminated the procurement ceiling under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for traditionally imported pulses like tur, urad, and masur, ensuring 100 percent procurement at MSP for these crops during 2024-25.

To increase domestic supply, a duty-free import policy for Tur, Urad, and Masur has been implemented.