(a) whether the Government is aware that in several areas of Maharashtra and
Uttar Pradesh, farmers are not getting even the Minimum Support Price for
agricultural produce like cotton and maize and they are compelled to sale their
products at a rate lower than the cost of production; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to
compensate their losses?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY
AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)
(a) & (b): Central Government extends price support to cotton and maize
through the Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. (CCI), Food Corporation of India (FCI),
Cooperative and State agencies. The cotton and maize conforming to the
prescribed specifications offered for sale at specified centres are bought by the
public procurement agencies at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The farmers
have the option to sell their produce to CCI, FCI, Cooperative and State agencies at
MSP or in the open market as is advantageous to them. In addition State
Governments are alerted from time to time to make adequate arrangements to
ensure MSP to farmers.