Food Minister Piyush Goyal announces increase in paddy procurement, halts onion exports

Food Minister Piyush Goyal in a virtual briefing on Friday said that Food Corporation of India and state ncies will procure a record quantity of 742 Lakh Metric Tonnes of pdy during this Kharif season. Piyush Goyal said last year, only 627 Lakh Metric Tonnes pdy was procured. ' number of purchase centres for Kharif 2020-21 have also been increased from 30,709 to 39,122,' he ded. 

Govt procures record quantity of pdy this year 

During virtual briefing, Food Minister informed that government has vanced procurement season to September 26 due to early arrival of pdy in market. While appreciating efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing support prices, Goyal said that in last five years, production of pulses has also gone up. government is working on a 'twin-track' to boost domestic production and to ensure that all consumers get pulses at right price, he ded.  

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Minister informed that pulses including Moong, Ur, and Tur have been supplied from buffer stocks to different States and Union territories. Goyal said that 2 Lakh Metric Tonne of Tur from buffer stock will be disposed of through open market sale in upcoming 15 days.

Union Minister also highlighted that despite lockdown, re has been short of food grains throughout country. 'Under Prhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, food was given to nearly 80 crore people,' he ded. 

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'Govt bans onion export'

While speaking upon rising prices of onion, Food Minister said that government on September 14 banned export of onions. Under certain conditions, government has also begun importing onions. Goyal said, 'So far 7,000 tonnes of onions have arrived in country and over 25,000 tonnes are expected to arrive before Diwali.' To ensure that re is short of onions in country, government has also banned seed export. Goyal said NAFED has given over 36,000 Metric Tonnes of onion from buffer stock to State Governments and in open market sale. He ded that government is taking steps to moderate potato prices as well. 

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Goyal who is also Minister of Railways informed that Railway is going to provide Kisan Rail for transportation of apples from Kashmir and Himachal Presh. Railway Minister also ded that farmers of country have faith in PM Narendra Modi and y are happy with recently introduced farm laws. 

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