MSP raised to Rs 2,183 per quintal
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The paddy procurement target set for the 2023–24 Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) in Assam is 7,01,200 metric tonnes (MT). Last year (2022-23), the target was 10,89,750 MT. However, the six agencies could procure only 598126.99 MT, benefiting 62,423 state farmers.
This year, the number of agencies is being decreased to four, in place of the six last year.
The six procurement agencies used for the procurement last year were: FCI (Food Corporation of India), AFCSCL (Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd), ASAMB (Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board), NACOF (National Federation of Farmers’ Procurement Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India Ltd), NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited), and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited), which together had 272 paddy procurement centres (PPCs) spread across the state.
However, this time, two agencies will not be used in the procurement process. They are NACOF (National Federation of Farmers’ Procurement Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India Ltd) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited). The number of PPCs will also be reduced from 272 last season to 158 this time.
Speaking to The Sentinel, AFCSCL vice- chairman Dhrubajyoti Maral said, “The minimum support price (MSP) was Rs 2040 per quintal in the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) in 2022–23. This year (2023-24) the MSP has been increased to Rs 2183 per quintal. In the last season, we operated 272 paddy procurement centres (PPCs) and the procurement was done through six agencies. This time, we are decreasing the number to only 4 agencies and the PPCs will also be reduced to 158. The procurement process will start from December 1, 2023, and the PPCs will be functional by December 15. The number of PPCs may be increased according to requirement.”
He also provided the targets set for the four agencies- AFCSCL- 5,20,200 MT through 121 PPCs, NAFED- 1,00,000 MT through 17 PPCs, FCI- 76,000 MT through 15 PPCs, ASAMB- 5,000 MT through 5 PPCs.
During the 2022–23 Kharif Marketing Season, the FCI procured 1,94,265.8 MT compared to the target of 4,26,000 MT from 19,331 farmers; AFCSCL procured 3,48,883.29 MT of paddy compared to the target of 5,10,500 MT from 36,852 farmers; ASAMB procured 4,461.28 MT compared to the set target of 6,000 MT from 520 farmers; NACOF procured 5,614.3 MT compared to the target of 8,250 MT of paddy from 651 farmers; NAFED procured 38,993.87 MT compared to the target of 1,31,500 MT from 4,537 farmers; and NCCF procured 5,908.45 MT compared to the target of 7,500 MT from 532 farmers.
The Kharif Marketing Season comprises two components: the first crop, which includes all common paddies (shali dhan), and the second crop, which includes the Boro paddies.
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