The Union Government has given the nod for procuring 3.37 lakh metric tonnes of arhar (toor) dal from Maharashtra farmers under the Price Support Scheme, a move worth nearly Rs 2,696 crore. The Ministry of Agriculture shared this update following a key meeting led by Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
PSS activates when crop prices fall below the announced MSP, offering a safety net to producers. In this case, toor’s market rates prompted the intervention to safeguard Maharashtra’s growers.
Chouhan, in his address during the New Delhi session, engaged with state Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal to streamline arrangements. Instructions were passed to cooperatives like NAFED and NCCF, alongside state agencies, for efficient handling.
Despite the substantial fiscal commitment, Chouhan reaffirmed the Modi government’s dedication to farmers. ‘We bear this cost gladly to protect their interests,’ he remarked, advocating for direct farmer-to-agency transactions to eliminate intermediaries.
Technology-driven transparency was a focal point. Chouhan mandated cutting-edge systems for registering farmers and conducting procurements. He also called for expanding procurement hubs to ease access and ensure smooth operations.
Key attendees included Rawal, Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, and top bureaucrats. This approval not only bolsters farmer incomes but also signals the Centre’s proactive stance on pulse procurement, crucial for food security and price stability in India.