Govt. gets EC’s nod for grain procurement at MSP

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Ragi procurement in Mysuru district will begin on January 1, 2016, and last until March 31.— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

The State government has taken permission from the Election Commission (EC) of India for commencing procurement of foodgrains at minimum support price (MSP) for 2015-16. The EC order was issued on December 19.

The permission had become essential in view of the model code of conduct in force owing to the upcoming elections to the Legislative Council from local bodies’ constituencies in the State.

Accordingly, based on the orders from Mysuru deputy commissioner and the chairperson of the District Task Force Committee, the procurement of foodgrains at MSP will commence in the district from Monday.

All taluks to be covered

The procurement will commence simultaneously in all taluks as the Karnataka State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, the procurement agency, has been told to open 11 MSP centres.

Nine of the centres — at Mysuru, Nanjangud, T. Narsipura, Hunsur, Bannur, K.R. Nagar, Chunchankatte, Periyapatna and H.D. Kote — would start procuring from Monday, according to the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Mysuru. The centres will work from their respective Agricultural Produce Market Committees.

The price fixed for paddy is Rs. 1,510 a quintal, while ragi is priced at Rs. 2,100 a quintal and white jowar at Rs. 2,100 a quintal.

Until March 31

The procurement of paddy, which began on December 19, will continue till March 31. However, the procurement of ragi and white jowar will start from January 1, 2016, and conclude on March 31, 2016.

The officials of the respective departments have been told to ensure a “problem-free” procurement and not to repeat the problems faced during the previous season. The respective departments have also been directed to provide basic infrastructure and make all the necessary arrangements at the centres before they become functional.

In the previous season, there were complaints of lack of manpower and farmers not getting payment for their produce on time. The schedule of purchase should not change at all, Deputy Commissioner C. Shikha had told the officials during a recent meeting here.

The officials have been told to deal strictly with any issues, and to reserve warehouses, both government and private, for storing the purchased grains.

11 procurement centres to open for operations in Mysuru district from today

Source : The Hindu