The government’s rice procurement has reached 52.06 million metric tonnes so far in the ongoing 2022–23 marketing season, benefiting 1.12 crore farmers with an MSP of Rs 1.6 lakh crore, the Food Ministry said on Friday.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI), along with state agencies, undertakes the procurement of paddy under the price support scheme. The Centre has set a target to buy 62.60 million metric tonnes of rice in the 2022–23 marketing season (October–September).
The FCI procured 57.58 million metric tonnes of rice during the 2021–22 marketing season. According to the food ministry, a total of 52.06 million metric tonnes of rice were procured up to May 22 of the current kharif marketing season. As many as 1.12 crore farmers have benefited from the procurement operation. About Rs 1,59,659.59 crore has been paid as the minimum support price (MSP) to them, it said in a statement. The government has fixed the MSP of ‘common’ grade paddy at Rs 2,040 per quintal and ‘A’ grade paddy at Rs 2,060 per quintal for the current year. According to the third estimate of the agriculture ministry, rice output is pegged at a record 135.54 million metric tonnes for the 2022–23 crop year, as against 129.47 million metric tonnes in the previous year.
The ministry said paddy brought to the purchase centres that is within the prescribed quality specifications is purchased at the fixed MSP. If the farmers get prices better than the support price from other buyers such as traders, millers, etc., they are free to sell their produce to them. FCI and the state government and agencies ensure that the farmers are not compelled to sell their produce below the support price, it said.
FCI and most of the state governments have developed their own online procurement system through which farmers get the latest or most updated information regarding MSP declared, nearest purchase centre, date of procurement, etc., it added.
