Gujarat Govt Initiates MSP Procurement for 11.51 tonnes of Kharif Crops Amidst Low Farmer Registrations

The Gujarat government has commenced the procurement of Kharif crops at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) despite a relatively low number of farmers registering for the program. The government has pledged to purchase 11.51 lakh metric tonnes of agricultural produce during this Kharif season.

Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel made the announcement at the old Agricultural Produce Marketing Company (APMC) in Rajkot as the procurement process began. Groundnut, soybean, green gram (moong dal), and urad dal are the initial crops being procured. Patel expressed his satisfaction with the situation, noting that farmers are receiving better prices in the open market this year, which has led to lower registration for MSP sales.

The Gujarat State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd (GUJCOMASOL) will handle groundnut procurement under MSP, while an FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) called Indi Agro will manage the procurement of soya bean, moong dal, and urad dal. These organizations will establish procurement outlets to facilitate the process.

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The state government disclosed that it plans to purchase over 11.51 lakh metric tonnes of Kharif crops this year, including 9.98 lakh metric tonnes of groundnut, 91,343 metric tonnes of soya bean, 9,000 metric tonnes of moong dal, and 53,000 metric tonnes of urad dal.

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As of October 16, a total of 35,585 farmers have registered to sell groundnuts under the MSP program. Additionally, 23,316 soybean farmers, 95 moong dal farmers, and 62 urad dal farmers have also registered with the government. The registration process was extended until October 31 to accommodate more farmers.

To facilitate the MSP procurement for Kharif crops, a network of 160 centers has been established for groundnuts, 73 for moong dal, 105 for urad dal, and 97 for soybean. These centers are strategically located within APMCs in various regions, ensuring that farmers have access to the program across the state.

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