Chhattisgarh Govt to Procure Pulses at MSP to Promote Crop Diversification

The Chhattisgarh government has planned to purchase "arhar," "urad," and "moong" at minimum support price (MSP) in the current kharif marketing season 2022–23 in an effort to encourage farmers to grow pulse crops.

Farmers would receive Rs 6,600 for a quintal of "arhar" (pigeon pea) and "urad" (black gramme), but they will be eligible to Rs 7,755 as MSP if they sell "moong" (green gramme) to the government society.

The Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation (Markfed), a government-run organization, would serve as the central purchasing point for pulses at support prices.

According to Chhattisgarh's Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, "there has been a steady drop in the acreage of pulse crops in the state and so the state government is taking attempts to convince the farmers to diversify from paddy."

He explained that the decision to purchase pulses at the MSP is one of the measures and that the initiative will also increase farmers' income.

The acreage of pulse crops has been increased from 277,330 hectares in the previous year to 448,180 hectares in the 2022-23 Kharif plan, a 62% increase.

The pulses output has been targeted at 232,000 tonnes, a 67.51% increase over the previous season's revised estimate. The state purchased 139,040 tonnes of pulses during the Kharif season 2021-22.

The state government estimates 520 kg of productivity per hectare, up from 501 kg last year. According to a state government spokesperson, the department of agriculture has issued detailed guidelines to all divisional commissioners, collectors, Markfed regional offices, and the Mandi Board for procurement of pulses at MSP in the state.

Urad and moong will be purchased from October 17, 2022, to December 16, 2022, and farmers will be able to sell their arhar yield from March 13, 2023, to May 12, 2023.

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