Question : Foodgrain Sale-Purchase Centre

(a) whether the Government proposes to set up foodgrain sale/purchase counters at block or panchayat level for providing remunerative prices to the farmers; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) & (b): Agricultural marketing is a state subject. However, in order to improve farmer-market linkages, Government is promoting direct purchase from farmers by processors, exporters, bulk retailers at farm gate with or without setting up purchase centres at block level or panchayat level, linking them to the retail outlets in the cities and towns so as to reduce the intermediation and provide remunerative prices to the farmers. So far 22 States have made this provision in their marketing laws. In States like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, number of such licenses have already been issued.

Procurement centres for wheat and rice are opened by respective State Govt. Agencies/ FCI 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 temporary purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandis and depots/godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of the farmers to avoid distress sale and to ensure the minimum support price for the farmers. As far as setting up of additional procurement centres is concerned, Government always opens purchase centres for expansion of reach of MSP to remote and tribal areas.

One of the designated agencies for procuring pulses viz. Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is procuring pulses towards building the buffer stock upto 20 lakh tones under PSF through its network of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

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