(a) whether the Government is aware of the ongoing demand from the farmers for ensuring support price for all of their products;
(b) if so, the reasons for not acceding to the same; and
(c) whether the Government will take necessary steps to sanction support price for undoing the sufferings of farmers?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (c) : Government of India announces Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 22 major agricultural commodities of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) each year in both the Crop seasons after taking into account the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). In addition, MSP for toria and de-husked coconut is also fixed on the basis of MSPs of rapeseed & mustard and copra respectively. Government also extends remunerative price to farmers through its various interventions schemes. Besides, the overall market also responds to declaration of MSP and Government’s procurement operations which results in private procurement on or above the MSP for various notified crops.
Government extends price support for paddy and wheat through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Agencies. Further, different types of nutri-cereals and maize are procured by State Governments itself in consultation with FCI to the extent that the concerned State Government may utilise the same for distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) as well as Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).
Oilseeds, pulses and copra of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) are procured from registered farmers under Price Support Scheme under Umbrella Scheme of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), as per its prescribed guidelines at MSP in consultation with the concerned State Government. Cotton and Jute are also procured by Government at MSP through Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and Jute Corporation of India (JCI).
Government has made record procurement for paddy and wheat at MSP. During Kharif Marketing season 2020-21, 895.83 LMT of paddy was procured benefitting approx 131.12 lakh farmers and during KMS 2021-22, 642.30 LMT (as on 01.02.2022) of paddy was procured benefitting approx 83.76 lakh farmers. Similarly, during RMS 2020-21, 389.93 LMT of wheat was procured benefitting approx. 43.36 lakh farmers and during RMS 2021-22, 433.44 LMT of wheat was procured benefitting approx 49.19 lakh farmers. Likewise, during 2020-21, 11.12 LMT of oilseeds and pulses was procured benefitting 6.56 lakh farmers.
For making effective procurement by government agencies at MSP and providing maximum benefits of MSP to the farmers, procurement centers are opened by respective State Government Agencies and Central Nodal Agencies like NAFED, FCI etc after taking into account the production, marketable surplus, convenience of farmers and availability of other logistics/ infrastructure such as storage and transportation etc. large number of the purchase centers in addition to the existing mandis and depots/godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of farmers.
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