In the current marketing year, which ends in September, the government has purchased nearly 890 lakh tonnes of paddy at MSP, an all-time high. This comes in the midst of a farmers’ protest near Delhi’s borders.
Thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, have been agitating for more than nine months, demanding the reformation of three new farm laws as well as a legal assurance of Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Also Read: India likely to achieve all-time high production of food grain in 2020-21
As per the statement issued by the food ministry, the central government has purchased 889.62 lakh tonnes of paddy grains through September 5 in the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21.
In the previous marketing season, the Food Corporation of India, the government’s nodal agency for foodgrain procurement and distribution, purchased 764.39 lakh tonnes of paddy.
The procurement for this year includes 718.09 lakh tonnes of paddy grown in the Kharif (summer-sown) season and 171.53 lakh tonnes grown in the rabi (winter-sown) season. Paddy is primarily grown during the Kharif season, but it is also grown during the rabi season.
‘This (procurement) has benefited approximately 130.47 lakh farmers from ongoing KMS procurement operations with an MSP value of Rs 1,67,960.77 crore,’ according to the statement.
Paddy purchasing has reached an all-time high, surpassing the previous quantity 773.45 lakh tonnes in KMS 2019-20, a report says.
Also Read: Paddy purchasing increased by 16% this Kharif to 638,57 lakh tons
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