NEW DELHI, 6 May 2020: India agriculture ministry has announced that it has procured 261,565 metric tonnes of pulses and 317,473 metric tonnes oilseeds under Rabi 2020-21 season as of 2 May 2020 of minimum support price (MSP) worth INR 2,682 crores benefiting 3,25,565 farmers.

Of this, a quantity of 14,859 metric tonnes of pulses and 6706 metric tonnes of oilseeds was procured on 1 and 2 May, 2020 in six states namely Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Besides, in Rabi marketing season 2020-21, a total of 1,87,97,767 metric tonnes of wheat arrived in Food Corporation of India (FCI), out of which 1,81,36,180 metric tonnes has been purchased, the ministry added.

Sowing of summer crops in full swing

• Rice: About 34.80 lakh ha area coverage under summer rice as compared to 25.26 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year.
• Pulses: About 8.77 lakh ha area coverage under pulses as compared to 5.44 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
• Course Cereals: About 9.12 lakh ha area coverage under coarse cereals as compared to 5.49 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
• Oilseeds: About 8.87 lakh ha area coverage under oilseeds as compared to 7.00 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.

So far INR 18,134 crore released under PM-KISAN

The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Government of India is taking several measures to facilitate the farmers and farming activities at field level during the lockdown period in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme during the lockdown period from 24 March 2020 till date, about 9.06 crore farmer families have been benefitted and an amount of INR 18,134 crore has been released so far.

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