New Delhi: Procurement centres must be adequately equipped and well managed to prevent inconvenience to farmers, said Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
He was speaking at a review meeting of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) held on Friday.
The meeting focused on procurement arrangements for pulses and oilseeds, ensuring that farmers receive the full benefit of the Minimum Support Price (MSP), and the effective implementation of related government schemes.
Detailed deliberations were held on the progress of procurement operations under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF). The Union Agriculture Minister reviewed the status of ongoing purchases, assessed operational challenges, and explored ways to make the procurement system more efficient and farmer-centric. He directed officials to further strengthen MSP procurement and make it more transparent, robust, and time-bound so that farmers receive fair prices for their produce without delay.
He emphasised that procurement centres must be adequately equipped and well managed to prevent inconvenience to farmers. He underlined the need for smooth and hassle-free operations at procurement centres, including timely payments, proper infrastructure, and clear communication regarding procurement schedules and procedures. Ensuring farmers’ trust in the government procurement system, he said, remains a top priority.
Special emphasis was laid on boosting the production and procurement of key pulses such as tur (arhar), urad, and masoor. Strategies to enhance the output and procurement of these crops were discussed, given their importance for nutritional security and reducing dependence on imports. Deliberations were also held on the proposed six-year ‘Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission’, aimed at increasing domestic production and ensuring assured procurement at MSP.
Under the proposed mission, discussions focused on measures such as improving farming practices, ensuring the availability of high-quality seeds, providing technical support to farmers, and strengthening marketing and procurement mechanisms. The mission seeks to make India self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) in pulses production, reduce import dependence, stabilise domestic prices, and ensure a sustained rise in farmers’ income.
The Union Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to freeing farmers from dependence on middlemen by directly linking them with the government procurement system. He instructed officials to strengthen coordination with state governments to ensure smooth and uniform implementation of procurement operations. Emphasis was also placed on improving procurement and storage infrastructure to ensure the safe and efficient handling of produce purchased at MSP.
Highlighting the importance of a responsive procurement mechanism, Shri Chouhan said effective procurement and adequate storage are essential for market stability. He said these measures help reduce price volatility and protect the interests of both farmers and consumers. He directed that procurement planning should be proactive and aligned with production estimates to ensure timely purchases during peak arrival periods.
