Question : PROCUREMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES

(a) whether the agricultural commodities not covered under the price support mechanism under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) scheme are being procured by the Government and its agencies;

(b) if so, the details of such commodities procured by the Government agencies during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) the price at which the commodities were procured by these agencies, commodity-wise;

(d) whether the Government has any mechanism to procure the agricultural commodities directly from the farmers instead of middlemen reaping the benefit so as to provide relief to the farmers; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 422 DUE FOR REPLY ON 23RD DECEMBER, 2014.

(a) to (e): Yes, Madam. The Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) is implemented on the request of State Governments /UT Administrations for procurement of agricultural commodities, which are generally perishable in nature and not covered under Price Support Scheme (PSS). The basic purpose of MIS is to prevent distress sale by farmers when prices fall below the economic levels/cost of production. Losses, if any, incurred in the implementation of MIS are shared between Central Government & concerned State Government on 50:50 basis, and on 75:25 basis in case of North-Eastern States. However, the loss is restricted to 25% of the total procurement cost. Profit earned, if any, in implementing MIS is retained by the procuring agencies.

Details of procurements under MIS during the last three years and the current year are annexed.