Editor
Guwahati: In a significant move to support farmers, the Assam government has announced its plans to set up procurement facilities across the state for the purchase of mustard seeds at a fixed minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 5,450 per quintal.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled this initiative on Wednesday, stating that mustard growers would now have the opportunity to sell their produce at 101 designated procurement locations.
During a press conference at Janata Bhawan, Sarma highlighted the importance of the government's efforts to expand its procurement activities, saying, "After procuring rice, we have now undertaken another initiative to procure mustard."
He urged all mustard farmers to sell their products in government-run marketplaces, with the assurance that the government would then sell the purchased mustard to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED).
Sarma explained that the state government would provide NAFED with the bank account details of the farmers from whom the mustard would be purchased.
"To ensure the welfare of our farmers, the benefiting farmers will receive the MSP of Rs 5,450 per quintal directly into their bank accounts within three working days of selling their produce. Through this initiative, we aim to procure 45 lakh metric tonnes of mustard," the Chief Minister emphasized.
Furthermore, Sarma revealed that the state's dairy farmers would soon be eligible to apply for government assistance. These dairy farmers will receive a subsidy of Rs 5 for every liter of milk they produce.
The procurement process will be managed by the Assam State Agricultural Board, Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, and NAFED, the central agency responsible for agricultural marketing.
This move by the Assam government is expected to provide much-needed support to mustard farmers and dairy producers in the state, ensuring their economic well-being and encouraging agricultural growth.