Lok Sabha Question No. 3053 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Procurement of Paddy
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3053 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST   MARCH, 2017

## PROCUREMENT OF PADDY

3053.  SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government for procurement of paddy from Gujarat;

(b) whether the whole quantity of paddy has not been procured from the farmers in Gujarat due to lack of godowns required for procurement of paddy;

- (c) if so, the response of the Government thereto;

(d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  bonus  to  the  farmers  for  making arrangement for procurement of whole quantity of paddy from Gujarat; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a): There  is  a  Uniform  Policy  for  procurement  of  paddy  by  Govt.  Agencies  across  the country. Under this policy, whatever food grains are offered by farmers from across the country, within the stipulated period, conforming to the specifications prescribed by Government of India, are  purchased  at  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  by  the  Govt.  agencies  including  Food Corporation of India (FCI) for central pool. However, If any producer/farmer gets better price in comparison to MSP, he is free to sell his produce in Open Market i.e to private traders/anyone. If  the  produce of farmer does not meet the specifications and he does not agree to upgrade, then the farmer is free to sell to the private trader at mutually agreed rate. The details of Rice Procurement and Number of Purchase Centres opened in Gujarat for the last three years by FCI and State Govt. Agencies is given as under:-

## Procurement of Rice in Gujarat

| Marketing Season   |   Estimates for Procurement |   Procurement |   No. of Purchase Centres opened |
|--------------------|-----------------------------|---------------|----------------------------------|
| 2014-15            |                        0    |          0    |                               65 |
| 2015-16            |                        0    |          0.01 |                               64 |
| 2016-17            |                        0.01 |          0.01 |                               59 |

## (Figures in LMT)

(b)  & (c): There  is  no  instance  of  non-procurement  of  paddy from  the farmers  of  Gujarat due to lack of godowns. Procurement is an open ended process and whatever food grains are offered by farmers, within the stipulated period, conforming to the specifications prescribed by Government of India, are  purchased at  MSP by the Govt.  agencies including FCI for central pool. However, If any producer/farmer gets better price in comparison to MSP, he is free to sell his produce in Open Market i.e to private traders/anyone.

Gujarat  Region  have covered  storage  capacity of around  6.23 LMT  which  is  sufficient enough to meet out the requirement of the state as per current procurement scenario.

(d) & (e): No Madam. There is no such proposal.

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