Centre procures Kharif crops at MSP from farmers amid row over Agricultural Act

Acting on its promise which Centre had committed to during row over farm reform bills, government has continued to procure Kharif crops from farmers at minimum support price (MSP) at onset of  Kharif Marketing Season.

Paddy Procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is gaining momentum and as on Saturday, Food Corporation of India along with or Government ncies have procured near about 38 Lakh Metric Tonnes Kharif Paddy worth over Rs 7,159 crore at MSP from more than 3.22 Lakh farmers.

Also, procurement of Paddy from farmers across country is 33% higher than value during same period last year. 

"Paddy procurement in 2020-21 Kharif marketing season is going on smoothly in procuring states with purchase of 32,12,439 tonne of paddy up to October 9," food ministry had earlier said in a statement.

Till October 9, about 459.60 tonnes of moong at MSP value of Rs 3.33 crore was procured from 326 farmers in Haryana and Tamil Nadu. Similarly, 5,089 tonnes of copra at MSP value of Rs 52.40 crore procured from 3,961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in said period.

Centre's assurance on MSP

This is in stark contrast to claims of opposition that said MSP will be impacted after implementation of new farm reform laws which were recently passed in both houses of parliament followed by presidents assent. 

While opposition parties held massive protests against implementation of farm laws, centre on multiple occasions had assured that farm laws will t affect MSP mechanism, whereas new reform laws will only free farmers from being compulsively dependant on Mandis to sell ir produce as farmers will be able to sell outside of Mandis, while also having doors open to sell through Mandis if y wish to.

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What are farm laws?

Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 aims at freeing  farmers from constraints of state Agriculture Produce Market Committees whereby y would be able to sell ir produce anywhere. Meanwhile,  Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 protects and empowers farmers to eng with processors, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters for farm services. This entails provision of contract farming. On or hand,  Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 specifies that supply of foodstuffs including cereals, pulses, potato, edible oilseeds, and oils shall be regulated only under exceptional circumstances.

(With PTI inputs)

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