Procurement of pulses and oilseeds by the Government from farmers shot up by 13 times during the four-and-half-year rule of the Modi regime as compared to the procurement done during the UPA period. This benefitted as many as 54 lakh farmers whose annual income registered an increase of Rs 80,000 on an average, the Government has claimed.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, between 2009-10 and 2013-14 — when the Congress — led UPA was in power-only 7.28 lakh metric tonnes of pulses and oilseeds valuing Rs 3,117.38 crore was procured at the minimum support price (MSP) whereas from 2014-15 to 2018-19, a quantity of 93.97 lakh MT of pulses and oilseeds valuing Rs 44,142.50 crore was procured. Of these, procurement of 78.84 Lakh MT amounting to Rs 35,800 crore alone has been contributed by the States of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
"The country has reported production of 25.23 MT of pulses during 2017-18 against production of 14.66 Million Tonnes in the year 2009-10, an increase of 72.10 per cent. Similarly, the production of oilseeds has increased from 24.88 Million Tonnes to 31.3 Million Tonnes during the same period, registering an increase of 25.80 per cent," the note said. For the procurement, the Cabinet has already sanctioned an additional guarantee of Rs 15,053 crore, it said.
As against a Government guarantee of Rs 2,500 crore up to the year 2013-14, a Government guarantee of Rs 18,250 crore for the Years 2018-20 has been made available for smooth conduct of Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme (PPSS). "Besides, this is the first time that Food Corporation of India (FCI) is participating in these operations for ensuring MSP for pulses and oilseeds growing farmers," it said.
In 2017-18, prices of most crops including pulses and oilseeds fell below Government announced support prices following a record harvest. Part of the reason for the plunge in prices to levels significantly lower than MSP is the missing trader-the key price maker in the market.
Food Corporation of India and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) will procure 44 lakh tonne of oilseeds and pulses under the new scheme — Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM- AAASHA) — aimed at ensuring assured and better returns to farmers.
The NABARD All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS) shows that average agriculture household income has increased from Rs 6,426 to Rs 8,931 per month in 2016-17. Apart from a paltry income, farmers are facing rising indebtedness, lesser financial inclusion, and absence of insurance facility, according to the report.