Over Rs. 1,082 cr paid to 41,084 farmers to buy paddy on MSP

New Delhi, Oct 5: With the paddy procurement for 2020-21 being commenced across the states, over 41,084 farmers have been paid over Rs 1,082 crore to purchase paddy at the minimum support price (MSP).

 

 

"Paddy procurement for 2020-21 has commenced across the procuring States. As of 03.10.2020, the cumulative procurement of Paddy in KMS 2020-21 is 5,73,339 MT. The total number of farmers benefited is 41,084 and the total MSP outflow so far, is approximately Rs 1,082.464 crore," the statement read in a release.

 

It also said that the cotton procurement has also begun from October 1. As of September 3, the state-run Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has procured a cumulative quantity of 147 bales at Rs 40.80 lakh MSP value benefiting 29 farmers.

 

 

"The Procurement of seed cotton (Kapas) during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 has started from 1st October 2020. As of 3-10-2020, Cotton Corporation of India has procured a cumulative quantity of 147 bales under MSP for a value of Rs.40.80 Lakh benefitting 29 farmers," it said.

 

Paddy procurement commenced from September 26 in Punjab and Haryana, while it started on September 28 in other states. For the current year, the government has fixed the MSP of paddy (common grade) at Rs 1,868 per quintal, while that of A grade variety has been fixed at Rs 1,888 per quintal.

 

Unlike before, the government is releasing daily procurement data to send a message to farmers protesting against new farm laws that it has no intention of scrapping procurement at MSP.

 

Farmers in Punjab and Haryana and several other states are protesting against the new farm laws, which they feel will lead to procurement in the hands of corporates and the end of the MSP regime. However, PM Narendra Modi and other Cabinet Ministers have assured that MSP will continue.