(a) whether the Union Government is aware of the massive production of red gram (pigeon pea) in the country especially in the State of Telangana this year;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the measures being considered to procure the same through NAFED or any other Government agency;
(d) whether any request has been received from the State Government of Telangana for procurement of excess red gram from the State; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(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. 172 DUE FOR REPLY ON 3RD MARCH, 2020.
(a) & (b): During year 2019-20, as per the Second Advance Estimates total production of red gram (tur) in the country including Telangana is estimated at 36.90 lakh tonnes.The production of red gram in the State of Telangana is estimated at 2.07 lakh tonnes.
(c) to (e): The Government is implementing Price Support Scheme (PSS) for procurement of pulses and oilseeds including red gram at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)”.Under the PSS, as per the prescribed guidelines, Government agencies procure pulses and oilseeds of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) at MSP from farmers in consultation with the concerned State Government as and when market price of these produce fall below the MSP. Further, Government has increased the MSP of red gram (tur) to Rs. 5800 per quintal for 2019-20 season from Rs. 5675 per quintal of 2018-19 season.
During Kharif 2019-20 season, proposals / requests have been received from various red gram (tur) producing states including Telangana for procurement of the same under PSS. Accordingly, this Department has given approval to Central Nodal agencies viz., National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.(NAFED) and Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure Red Gram under PSS in those states.
During Kharif 2019-20, on the basis of proposal received from the Government of Telangana for the implementation of Price Support Scheme (PSS) for red gram, approval of Central Government for procurement of 47500 MTs has been issued and against it as on 22nd February, 2020, 45500 MTs of red gram has been procured. Based on the Second Advance Estimate of 2019-20 of production of red gram in Telangana, the approved quantity has been increased from 47500 MTs to 51625 MTs.
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