The Centre has approved the procurement of summer lentils ‘moong’ and ‘urad’ in Madhya Pradesh and ‘urad’ in Uttar Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme (PSS).
According to an official statement, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also discussed procurement logistics with the respective state agriculture ministers and issued necessary instructions to NAFED, NCCF and state officials.
Singh stated that although the decision to procure moong and urad would place a significant financial burden on the central government, the government is committed to ensuring farmers receive the intended benefits.
Direct procurement from farmers will reduce the influence of middlemen and ensure that the actual benefit reaches the farmers, he added
The PPS is designed to protect farmers from losses when market prices of certain agricultural commodities fall below a predetermined minimum support price (MSP).
When market prices drop, the government, through designated nodal agencies like NAFED, purchases the produce directly from farmers at the MSP. This ensures farmers receive a fair price for their crops and prevents distress sales.
