After allowing procurement of kharif crops in Punjab and Haryana in advance to placate farmers’ anger over farm Bills, the Centre has now allowed all remaining procuring States to commence with their procurement operations for paddy for the year 2020-21 (Kharif crop) with effect from September 28 itself.
The Centre on Monday came out with the latest data of paddy procurement in the last 48 hours to allay any apprehensions over the minimum support price (MSP) buying. Meanwhile, the ministry of consumer affairs has allowed procurement of 13.77 LMT of Pulse and oilseeds from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Haryana.
With the latest procurement data, the government aims to send a clear message - it has no intention of scrapping the MSP and that it has put in a mechanism for procurement of not only summer-sown paddy but also pulses and oilseeds this year. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana and several other states are protesting against new farm laws which they feel will lead to procurement in the hands of corporates and the end of the MSP regime.