Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21: Govt Buys Paddy Worth Rs 1.26 Lakh Crore at MSP

Despite ongoing farmers protests against three new farm laws, procurement of Kharif paddy has risen nearly 15% to 669.59 lakh tonnes at MSP so far in the current Kharif marketing season, costing over Rs 1.26 lakh crore. In October, the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) begins. Paddy is a major Kharif (summer-planted) crop, but it is also planted in the rabi (winter-planted) season.

According to an official release, the government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP (Minimum Support Price) from farmers as per existing MSP schemes in the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21.

Until March 3, the government had 669.59 lakh tonnes of paddy, up 14.78% from 583.34 lakh tonnes in the same time the previous year.

The ongoing KMS procurement operations, with an MSP value of Rs 1,26,418.70 crore, have already benefited around 97.70 lakh farmers, according to the release.

Punjab has contributed 202.82 lakh tonnes to the overall procurement of 669.59 lakh tonnes. By March 3rd, the food ministry had procured 91,80,412 cotton bales worth Rs 26,716.31 crore, helping 18,97,002 farmers.

For more than three months, tens of thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at Delhi's borders, demanding the repeal of three farm laws passed by Parliament in September. Farmer unions are also calling for a legal promise of the MSP.