Wheat Procurement At MSP Begins; Low Farmer Turnout Due to Holi, Higher Mandi Prices Affect Sales | Representative Image
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Procurement of wheat on minimum support price (MSP) has begun in the district. A farmer Dharmendra Vishwakarma sold 30 quintals of wheat at a procurement centre in Jharkheda village in Shyampur Tehsil. Vihwakarma is the first farmer of the district who sold his wheat at MSP.
As many as 140 procurement centres have been set up across the district for procurement of wheat. Inspector of district fertilizer Akash Chandel said that the department had been ready for the procurement and the farmers may reach the centres with their produce. There are only 25 slots for selling wheat. However, because of Holi, the farmers are barely any interest in selling their produce and the turnout is low.
So far, 75,233 farmers got themselves registered at various procurement centres. They will get MSP of Rs 2,600 a quintal. The registration, which began on January 30, will continue until March 30. Authorities have set a procurement target of six lakh metric tonnes of wheat.
However, a recent change in procurement dates and higher prices being offered at Mandis compared to government procurement centers have influenced farmers’ selling preferences.