India, Dec. 5 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha today that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi, three important works have been done to increase production , reduce costs and provide fair prices for the produce . He said that the government has only one aim and formula and that is the welfare of farmers. Shri Chouhan said that it is a matter of pride that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government decided in the year 2019 that MSP will be fixed by giving 50% profit on the cost , and now 100% tur , masoor and urad will be purchased from the farmers , whereas the previous government had said that fixing a 50% increase directly on the cost could lead to distortion in the market.
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh, in response to questions in Parliament, stated that we are fully adhering to the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission and are purchasing crops at MSP, providing a 50% profit on the total cost, and for many crops , we are even offering more than 50% . Prior to 2014 , such procurement was not widespread, and for pulses and oilseeds, procurement was nominal. We have also established the PM ASHA scheme. Shri Shivraj Singh stated that many state governments are lax in procurement and do not fully procure , causing problems for farmers . He added that we have decided that if state governments purchase less or do not purchase at all for tur , masoor , and urad, we will directly procure them through agencies like NAFED , ensuring fair prices for farmers.
Shri Shivraj Singh said that between 2004 and 2014 , only 468.9 million metric tons of Kharif crops were purchased at MSP . However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi, the government has purchased 818.6 million metric tons. The previous government purchased 232 million metric tons of Rabi crops . Currently , the government has purchased 354 million metric tons and also purchased various pulses and oilseeds. Earlier, 477.5 million metric tons of oilseeds were purchased , whereas the NDA government has purchased 12.8 million metric tons. In 10 years , only 6 million metric tons of pulses were purchased , whereas we have purchased 18.9 million metric tons . In this way , we have tried to pay farmers the full price for their produce.
Union Minister Shri Chouhan said that agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy and farmers are its lifeblood . The welfare of farmers is the supreme resolve of the Prime Minister and the government. We have fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) . Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi , we have announced an MSP double the MSP that was given by the previous government in 2013-14. Giving crop-wise statistics, Shri Shivraj Singh said that during the previous government, very low prices were paid for paddy , jowar , bajra , ragi , tur , mung, urad, peanuts, sunflower, wheat, barley, gram, mustard, etc. , whereas currently , MSPs are being significantly increased , and procurement under MSP has also been significantly increased . Shri Shivraj Singh also said that this is the Shri Narendra Modi government that focuses on the interests of farmers. In the previous 10 years, MSP procurement was worth Rs.7.41 lakh crore , whereas we have procured Rs. 24.49 lakh crore .
Shri Shivraj Singh said that last year, when the Karnataka government talked about purchasing tur in 2024-25 , we told the Karnataka government that we would procure 100 %. They asked for approval for only 25% , not 100 %. We approved 25% , but even that much could not be purchased. We approved 3,06,150 MT , and the Karnataka government purchased 2,16,303 MT, which is less than the guaranteed amount. Shri Shivraj said that the welfare of farmers is our only formula. It is our resolve to give farmers a fair price for their produce, and we will definitely fulfill this resolve in the interest of farmers.
Disclaimer: The original story of this translated version is available on Press Information Bureau.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
