Upholding the interests of farmers Jagan Mohan Reddy government has announced Minimum Support Price (MSP) in the current sowing season for various agriculture produce.
Also, it is for the first time wherein any government has announced MSP (Minimum Support Price) for chilli, Turmeric, Sweet orange, Minor-Millet, Banana and onion.
Special Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing P.S Pradyumna said that “The government of Andhra Pradesh under the dynamic leadership of Honourable Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced a very aggressive procurement policy. Last year state government procured commodities worth 3,300 crores through MSP Operations and in the view of the pandemic this year we have planned procurement centres to be arranged in each village. Probably Andhra Pradesh is the first state where a farmer will not be needing to go out of the village to sell his produce.”
Further special commissioner of Agricultural Marketing shared that procurement will be carried forward from the farm gate as well in special cases.
He said “in special certain cases procurement will be done from the farm gate itself so that farmers be at relief. Moreover, Andhra Pradesh is the only state which has announced state minimal support price for 6 commodities i.e. chilli, turmeric, sweet orange, Minor- Millet, banana & onion. So, if the rates fall below their MSP we will be doing procurement operations for these commodities as well.”
“Importantly farmers are being given assurance, that in any case of absence of competitive price their crop will be purchased as per the MSP Announced. Last year we procured 8,10,000 metric tonnes of commodities minus paddy because paddy is being dealt by a separate organization. This year procurement will start from October 15, we are expecting to procure about 3 to 3.5 lakh metric tonnes. Small and marginal farmers will get priority in the crop procurement process.” Said PS Pradyumna
The State Government will intervene and procure farm produce through RBK’s to create competition in the market to ensure better prices to farmers for their produce.
Farmers have to get register details of their produce with e-Karshak and get themselves enrolled with Village Agriculture Assistants or Village Horticulture Assistants in RBKs to sell their produce.