Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged the Centre to procure gram on declared minimum support price in the larger interest of farmers. He said that the credit limit of National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) should be increased to `5000 crore so that farmers do not suffer loss due to binding credit limit.
Chouhan met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue in New Delhi on Tuesday and had discussions with him on related aspects of the issue.
Chouhan also met Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram in this regard.
Chouhan informed the Prime Minister that market rate of gram is `2324 per quintal which is 30 per cent lower than the minimum support price of `3100 per quintal declared by the Centre.
He said that farmers will suffer heavy loss if their produce is not procured on support price. Chouhan said that State Government is ready to extend full cooperation in respect of storage.
During his 15-minute discussions with the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh is the largest pulses producing State. Bumper crop of gram is expected this year. The procurement of gram on support price may go to 15 lakh MT this year. Drawing Prime Minister’s attention towards discussions held between State Government and NAFED, Chouhan informed the Prime Minister about unwillingness of NAFED to procure gram on support price.
The Chief Minister said that ensuring remunerative price to farmers is the top priority of State Government. Farmers cannot be left to the mercy of market, which can force them to sell their produce on throw away prices. The Chief Minister urged the Centre to take initiatives and make advance preparations for procurement of gram on support price, increase credit limit of procuring agency and arrange for jute bags. He said that Madhya Pradesh is ready to cooperate with the NAFED.
The Chief Minister proposed that if Union Agriculture Ministry agrees to designate State’s agency MARKFED as procurement agency, the State Government will happily come forward and ensure necessary coordination between NAFED and Agriculture Ministry and execute statutory action.
Agreeing to Chief Minister’s logic, the Prime Minister said that Central Government is committed to procure gram on support price. All requisite arrangements will be made. The Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram also assured justified action.