GUWAHATI: The Assam government has approved the procurement of 45,793 MT mustard seeds under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) at an MSP of ₹5450 per quintal against the market rate of ₹4500-4800 per quintal.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed this while addressing the media in Guwahati on Wednesday.
"This would encourage the farmers to engage in mustard seeds farming. As most of the fields remain empty after harvesting rice crops, alternate farming will surely encourage the farmers to go for the farming of second farming, and what else could be better than mustard seeds," the CM added.
He also informed that the procurement of the mustard seeds would be made through two centres- Raha in Nagaon and Amingaon in Kamrup (Rural), adding that nine other centres have been advertised.
He also informed that more such centres would be operationalised in a phased manner.
The CM further added that the procurement would be made through Assam State Agricultural Board and Assam Food & Civil Supplies Corporation as the state agencies and through NAFED as the Central agency.
"The procurement period will be from May 29 to August 26, 2023, and individual farmers can sell up to 25 quintals of Fair Average Quality produce per day with moisture content less than 8% and foreign matter less than 2%. Additional quantity can be sold on consecutive days," he added.
CM Sarma added that the beneficiary farmers would receive MSP within three working days of selling stock directly in their bank accounts.
He further informed that agriculture development officials would assist in issuing necessary farm certificates.
The chief minister urged the individual farmers to register themselves through the e-Samriddhi portal.
"This would enable an additional income of approximately ₹250 crore for farmers, which would boost the state's economy significantly," the CM added.
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