Under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), Agriculture Department has created an enlarged structure and management for the procurement of red gram, which is going to be implemented within a week. Low market value has been affecting the procurement of red gram and while considering this issue the state government has decided to utilize the services of the agencies like NAFED, HACA, and TS Markfed to get the procurement of the produce.
According to departmental estimates, red gram was cultivated in around 6.25 lakh acres during Kharif and the yield was expected to be around 1.65 lakh tonne. Red gram farmers have been facing lack of proper marketing facilities this season and are not getting a remunerative price in the open market for the crop.
As per information available, the price paid by the private traders for red gram ranged between Rs 2,500 and Rs 4,000 per quintal in various markets of the State.
The State government has assured Minimum Support Price of Rs 5,450 per quintal of red gram and had asked the farmers not to sell their produce in advance at a lower price. The Agriculture Department has already got clearance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to procure red gram at Rs 5,450 under Price Support Scheme (PSS).
“We are advising the farmers not to sell their crops at prices lower than the MSP since the government is ready to purchase red gram at Rs 5,450 per quintal which is much higher than the market price,” Agriculture secretary C Paratha Sarathi told Telangana Today.
He said the department had also entrusted the job to NAFED, HACA and TS Markfed agencies to start procurement of red gram by opening a maximum number of centres from the second week of this month. “Arrival of the red gram will start from December 15, but the procurement centres will be opened in advance,” Paratha Sarathi said.
Last Kharif season, the State government had procured red gram by opening 98 procurement centres in the State, and this time, the number would be further increased depending on the arrivals. To protect farmers’ interest, the agriculture Secretary has also written a letter to all district collectors to ensure red gram farmers avail PSS without fail.
