Lok Sabha Question No. 542 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: MSP for Paddy Farmers for Kerala
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## INISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.542 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH DECEMBER, 2023

## SP FOR PADDY FARMERS FOR KERALA

## 542n  SHRI KODIKUNNIL  SURESH:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC DiSTRiBUTiON aqqttm ljnl+, vm  Bh WT8rfqq f++or THt be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of minimum support price for paddy farmers allocated to Kerala State for the last three kharif marketing years 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022.23;
- (b) whether the  Government is  yet to pay  certain dues  or  has  unpaid arrears to  be paid to  Kerala State towards minimum support price for paddy;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the  Government has withheld any  portion of  Central allocations or fraction of subsidies for want of audited statements for any reason or lapses by the Government of Kerala; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a): State Government of Kerala has adopted Decentralized Procurement (DCP) mode, wherein procurement and distribution  operations are carried out by State Government and its agencies.

No State-wise allocation of funds is made by Government of India for procurement  of paddy.

As per information received from the State Government, details of payment towards Minimum Support Price made to the farmers during the last three years are as under:-

| Financial Year   | Amount (Rs. in Crore   |
|------------------|------------------------|
| 2020-21          | 1 428.81               |
| 2021 -22         | 1 451 .90              |
| 2022-23          | 1 475.Ol               |
| Total            | 4355.72                |

(b) to (c):  Procurement and distribution operations are  carried out  by State Government and its agencies. Upto 1 OO% of the fixed and 95% of the variable cost of  the incidentals are reimbursed to  the  Dep States for distribution of food grains under Central Schemes on the basis of Provisional Cost Sheet (PCS), which includes MSP component also among other  incidentals. The  provisional  quarterly  claims  of  State  Governments are processed as per prevalent guidelines. This is an ongoing and continuous process and  Department of Food  & Public Distribution, Government of India has been continuously releasing quarterly admissible amount of food subsidy to all DCP States  including  Government of Kerala.

Funds to the tune of Rs. 4537.73 crore have been released to the State Government of Kerala towards distribution of food grains for Central Schemes during the last  three  years.

(d) to (e):  As per existing guidelines, 5% amount of admissible subsidy is being withheld due to non-submission of annual audited accounts beyond 5th year and further by 2% for each subsequent year subject to a maximum of  1 O% of the admissible amount of food subsidy. Annual audited accounts upto KMS 201 6-17 have been received from the State Government.

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