BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is set for a record procurement of non-paddy rabi crops including pulses and oil-seeds this season. So far, 6,100 tonne of pulses and oil seeds has already been procured by the Orissa State Co-operative Marketing Federation Ltd (Markfed-Odisha) against 1500 tonne last year.
While nearly 10 days are left for the procurement season to end, the federation has planned to buy around 4,000 tonne more non-paddy crops, including green gram (moong), black gram (Urad), groundnut pods (shelled groundnut) and sunflower seeds.
The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for green gram is Rs 5,375 per quintal, black gram Rs 5,200, red gram Rs 5,250, groundnut pods Rs 4,250 and sunflower seed is Rs 4,000 per quintal.The Markfed is procuring the crops from 11 districts - Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Dhenkanal, Angul and Malkangiri through 54 centres opened at Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multi Purpose Societies (LAMPS).
Markfed Managing Director Pratap Kumar Mishra said more than 520 tonne of pulses and oil seeds have been procured from Malkangiri and 500 tonne more is expected from the district which has performed best this time.“The crops are being procured under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) to save farmers from exploitation of middlemen. Distress sale has been checked as farmers are getting more price than the market rate,” he said.
Though the federation was staring at shortage of storing place for stocking the procured crops, it was resolved after Odisha State Warehousing Corporation and Seeds Corporation agreed to share their stores.
Mishra said remote areas of the target districts have been given priority. The procurement is a huge success in Jajpur and Krushnaprasad block of Puri district. The monsoon may pay a spoilsport, but the target will be achieved, he claimed. Meanwhile, Secretary of Cooperation Department Ranjana Chopra has urged Agriculture Secretary Saurabh Garg to move the Centre for extension of the PSS operations till July 15.
Good harvest
6,100 tonne of pulses and oil seeds already procured by Markfed-Odisha
11 dists sourcing the produce
54 centres opened at PACS and LAMPS
Rs 5,375 per quintal MSP for green gram
Rs 5,200 for black gram
Rs 5,250 for red gram
Rs 4,250 for groundnut pods
Rs 4,000 for sunflower seed