The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday increased the procurement limit for the summer moong crop from 25 per cent to 60 per cent of a farmer’s produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and suspended the recently introduced e-token system for fertiliser distribution following protests by farmers.
Announcing the decision, Agriculture Minister Edal Singh Kanshana said the move was taken after consultations with farmer representatives and with the aim of safeguarding farmers’ interests.
The Centre had fixed a procurement target of 4.52 lakh metric tonnes of summer moong for Madhya Pradesh this year. Under the earlier arrangement, only 25 per cent of each eligible farmer’s produce was to be procured at MSP.
“Following discussions with farmer representatives, the state government has decided to procure 60 per cent of the moong produce from every eligible farmer instead of only 25 per cent. In districts such as Narmadapuram, Sehore and Harda, this is equivalent to approximately three quintals per acre,” Kanshana said.
The minister said the revised procurement limit would come into effect immediately. The government has also extended the deadline for booking procurement slots by 10 days, allowing farmers to register until August 10 instead of July 30. The last date for procurement has also been extended from August 10 to August 20.
Addressing concerns over the e-token system for fertiliser distribution, Kanshana said the mechanism was introduced to streamline services but had encountered implementation issues during its rollout. He said Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had decided toconstitute a high-level committee headed by the Agriculture Production Commissioner to review the system and recommend improvements.
“Until necessary reforms are made, the e-token system for fertiliser distribution has been suspended with immediate effect,” the minister said.
ANI
