Govt procures paddy worth Rs 1.20 lakh crore so far this kharif marketing season
Paddy procurement has increased 16 per cent so far this kharif marketing season at 638.57 lakh tonne, valued at Rs 1,20,562 crore, amid ongoing farmers’ protest at borders of the national capital. Kharif marketing year starts from October.
“In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per existing MSP schemes, as was done in previous seasons,” an official statement said.
The government has purchased 638.57 lakh tonne till February 12, up 16.25 per cent from 549.30 lakh tonne in the corresponding period of the previous marketing year.
“About 91.69 lakh farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs 1,20,562.19 crore,” the statement said.
Farm laws to empower marginal farmers: Chief Economic Adviser KV Subramanian
The intent of the new farm laws is to empower marginal farmers and anything else being said about them are rumours, chief economic adviser (CEA) KV Subramanian said during a televised event on Friday.
“From an economic perspective and from common knowledge, it is clear that the intention of these (farm) laws are purely to empower small farmers,” Subramanian said, adding, “In my opinion, whatever else is being said about them are rumours.”
While large farmers have the option to sell outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets, or mandis, and get better prices for their produce, smaller farmers had to sell at lower prices in the mandis, according to the CEA.
New agri laws will help double farmers’ income: Anurag Thakur
BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Friday slammed opposition parties, asking them not to use farmers for their political gains and asserted that the three new farm laws will help in doubling income of the farming community. While participating in the debate on the Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha, Thakur, who is the Minister of State for Finance, challenged the opposition leaders to show him if it is written anywhere in the three agri laws that the regime of ‘mandis’ and MSP would come to an end due to the legislation.
“These people say farm laws are black laws. Only whose thinking is black will call it black. This law has been brought to double the income of farmers. We are committed to double the income of farmers,” Thakur said in the Upper House.
