Question : Procurement of Agricultural Produce

(a) whether the Government is aware that farmers of the country are in great distress as there was nobody to procure their products on the eve of demonetization;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has any mechanism for the payment against procurement of farmers’ products, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government is considering to provide fertilizers and seeds at a cheaper price or free of cost to the farmers who have no currency to buy due to demonetization, if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (c): To protect the farmers from distress, Government procures their produce through Central agencies. Since, payment to the farmers is made strictly through RTGS/NEFT and account payee cheque by these Central agencies, there has been no impact on such procurement of agriculture produce due to demonetization.

(d): Government has allowed farmers to purchase seeds with the old high denomination bank notes of Rs.500 from, the centres, units or outlets belonging to the Central or State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings, National or State Seeds Corporations, Central or State Agricultural Universities and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institutes.

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