Government Purchases Record 874 lakh tonnes of Paddy at MSP

In the 2020-21 marketing year ending in September, the central government so far has purchased a record 874 lakh tonnes of rice and paid around Rs.1.65 lakh crore for it.

According to a statement issued by the Food Ministry, paddy purchases reached a record high, surpassing the record 773.45 lakh metric tonnes of procurement during the Kharif 2019-20 marketing year.

In the current Kharif marketing season, approximately 129.03 lakh farmers have been benefited from the acquisition at the price of MSP and received a remuneration of Rs.1,64,951.77 crore. 

The release said purchase of paddy in the Kharif season 2020-21 is going smoothly in its selling states. It is further stated that as of August 23, 2021, more than 874 lakh metric tons of paddy were purchased as compared to 763.01 lakh metric tons of paddy purchased in the same period last year.  

According to the statement, the states that purchased wheat during the current Rabi 2021-22 marketing season have completed their wheat purchases, and as of August 18, 2021, they purchased 433.44 lakh metric tons of wheat. 

The statement stated that 49.20 lakh farmers benefited from the acquisition during the current Rabi marketing season. During this period, the minimum support price received by farmers was 85,603.57 crore.

In addition, according to the proposals received from the states, the Kharif Marketing Session 2020-21 and the Rabi Marketing session 2021 and summer approval for the procurement of 109.58 lakh metric tons of pulses and oilseeds within the price framework have also been approved under Price Support Scheme (PSS) for the 2021 season. 

Approval was also given for procurement of 1.74 lakh metric tonnes of copra (perennial crop) from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. 

11,991,926.47 MT of Moong, arhar, Lentil, Urad, Groundnut Pods, sunflower seeds, mustard seeds will be produced by the government through its nodal agencies by August 23, 2021 under Kharif 2020-21 and Rabi 2021 and Summer Session 2021.