NEW DELHI, 20 October 2020: Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is progressing at a fast pace in the procuring States/UTs of Punjab, Haryana, UP, TN, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, J&K and Kerala with the purchase of over 98.19 Lakh MT of paddy up to 19 October 2020 from 8.54 lakh farmers valuing INR 18539.86 crore at MSP rate of INR 18880 per MT.

Paddy Procurement during the corresponding period of KMS 2019-20 was 80.20 LMT. Therefore procurement in the current season exceeds by 22.43 percent than the previous season.

Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 42.46 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme(PSS).

Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra (the perennial crop) for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.

Up to 19 October 2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 806.11 MT of Moong and Urad having MSP value of INR 5.80 Crores benefitting 779 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Haryana. Similarly, 5089 MT of copra (the perennial crop) having MSP value of INR 52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for the commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.

Cotton procurement operations under MSP are going on smoothly in the Northern States viz. Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan. Till 19 October 2020, a quantity of 200512 cotton bales valuing INR 56590.51 lakh has been procured from 40196 farmers.