The Chhattisgarh government’s efforts to demand a hike on the Minimum Support Price of Tamarind has received a boost as the Central government has fixed the MSP at Rs22 per Kilogram.
Chief Minister Raman Singh had taken up the issue on demanding a hike in Tamarind prices with the Central government, officials stated. The purchase of Tamarind will be done from February to April 2015.
About Five lakh quintal Tamarind will be purchased at an MSP of Rs135 crore. The ratio on MSP of the Central Government and Chhattisgarh State Government is 75:25. The purchases will be done through Primary Co-operative Societies. Traders can also buy tamarind on the MSP, officials stated.
Notably, Tamarind and Maize of Bastar division is in high demand overseas as proved by exports which was to the tune of more than Rs100 crore last year. In the Kharif season last year, more than six lakh quintals of maize worth Rs85 crore was exported from Bastar. Similarly 50,000 quintals of Tamarind worth Rs20 crore was exported last year.
Significantly, the maize produced by Bastar is being exported to USA, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam while tamarind is being exported to Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Dubai.
In the Kharif season last year, more than six lakh quintals of maize worth Rs85 crore was exported from Bastar. Similarly 50,000 quintals of Tamarind worth Rs20 crore was exported.
A few years ago, paddy and mustard were the key crops of Bastar region but the trend has changed during the past five years. The farmers go for maize in Rabi and Kharif crops and getting higher returns in comparison to paddy.
Joint Director of Mandi Board Kumar Ram Banjare had stated that the total procurement of maize in different markets of Bastar division was 1758851 quintals in 2011-12, 20,25056 quintals in 2012-13 and 21,04478 quintals in 2013-14. “The production of maize is increasing year by year in the division and more and more farmers are interested in farming of maize,” stated Banjare.