Gandhinagar, Nov 9 (NationPress) The statewide procurement of Kharif crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) was officially launched by Gujarat Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani on Sunday from Dehgam in Gandhinagar district.

This initiative represents the commencement of extensive government procurement efforts aimed at guaranteeing fair returns for farmers. Following the inauguration, the Minister engaged in a friendly conversation with farmers who presented their products for sale under the MSP scheme.

Farmers expressed their appreciation to the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel-led government for acquiring their crops at prices exceeding the prevailing market rates.

In accordance with the Chief Minister’s directive, the state government has sanctioned the procurement of groundnut, moong, urad, and soybean worth over Rs 15,000 crore at MSP throughout Gujarat. During his visit to the Dehgam procurement center, Minister Vaghani evaluated the arrangements and monitored the entire operational process.

While addressing the farmers, he reaffirmed the state government's commitment to taking every necessary measure in favor of the farming community. The farmers welcomed this decision and praised the timely procurement initiative.

Significantly, while the market price for groundnut is approximately Rs 5,000 per quintal, the Government of India has set the MSP at Rs 7,263 per quintal, providing farmers with an additional Rs 2,263 per quintal. This considerable difference has motivated farmers to proactively sell their produce at MSP.

The inaugural event was attended by Dehgam MLA Balrajsinh Chauhan, Chairman of the Co-operative Processing Society Ltd Dhanvantsinh Chauhan, Gandhinagar District Collector Mehul K. Dave, officials from the Agriculture Department, and many beneficiary farmers.

Gujarat boasts around 43 to 45 lakh farmers engaged in Kharif cultivation, playing a vital role in the state’s agricultural economy. Major Kharif crops include groundnut, cotton, paddy, pulses, and soybean, which together occupy more than half of Gujarat’s total cropped area.

The state's varied agro-climatic zones, ranging from the fertile central Gujarat plains to the semi-arid regions of Saurashtra and Kutch, facilitate a diverse array of Kharif farming practices, establishing Gujarat as one of India’s foremost producers of groundnut and cotton during the monsoon season.