Lok Sabha Question No. 1064 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Support Price for Agricultural Products
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: M. P. Abdussamad Samadani

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1064

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## SUPPORT PRICE FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

1064. DR. M.P. ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the ongoing demand from the farmers for ensuring support price for all of their products;
- (b) if so, the reasons for not acceding to the same; and
- (c) whether the Government will take necessary steps to sanction support price for undoing the sufferings of farmers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (c) : Government of India announces Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 22 major agricultural commodities of  Fair  Average  Quality  (FAQ)  each  year  in  both  the  Crop  seasons  after  taking  into account  the  recommendations  of  the  Commission  for  Agricultural  Costs  and  Prices  (CACP).  In addition,  MSP for  toria  and de-husked coconut is also fixed on the basis of MSPs of rapeseed & mustard and copra respectively. Government also extends remunerative price to farmers through its various interventions schemes. Besides, the overall market also responds to declaration of MSP and Government's procurement operations which results in private procurement on or above the MSP for various notified crops.

Government  extends  price  support  for  paddy  and  wheat  through  the  Food  Corporation  of India (FCI) and State Agencies. Further, different types of nutri-cereals and maize are procured by State Governments itself in consultation with FCI to the extent that the concerned State Government may utilise the same for distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) as well as Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).

Oilseeds,  pulses  and  copra  of  Fair  Average  Quality  (FAQ)  are  procured  from  registered farmers  under  Price  Support  Scheme  under  Umbrella  Scheme  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Annadata  Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), as per its prescribed guidelines at MSP in consultation with the concerned State Government. Cotton and Jute are also procured by Government at MSP through Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and Jute Corporation of India (JCI). Government  has  made  record  procurement  for  paddy  and  wheat  at  MSP.  During  Kharif Marketing  season  2020-21,  895.83  LMT  of  paddy  was  procured  benefitting  approx  131.12  lakh farmers  and  during  KMS  2021-22,  642.30  LMT  (as  on  01.02.2022)  of  paddy  was  procured benefitting  approx  83.76  lakh  farmers.  Similarly,  during  RMS  2020-21,  389.93  LMT  of  wheat  was procured benefitting approx. 43.36 lakh farmers and during RMS 2021-22, 433.44 LMT of wheat was procured benefitting  approx 49.19  lakh  farmers.  Likewise,  during  2020-21,  11.12  LMT  of  oilseeds and pulses was procured benefitting 6.56 lakh farmers.

For making effective procurement by government agencies at MSP and providing maximum benefits of MSP to the farmers, procurement centers are opened by respective State Government Agencies and Central Nodal Agencies like NAFED, FCI etc after taking into account the production, marketable surplus, convenience of farmers and availability of other logistics/ infrastructure such as storage  and  transportation  etc.  large  number  of  the  purchase  centers  in  addition  to  the  existing mandis and depots/godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of farmers.

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