Bajra procurement to start from November 1

The Rajasthan Government on Sunday decided to start procurement of bajra, which has registered a bumper production this year, from November 1. The procurement will be carried out at the minimum support price in 16 districts of the State with a production of 1-lakh tonnes of bajra each in the first phase. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said at a high-level meeting convened at his official residence here that the procurement would be done through Food Corporation of India, Rajasthan State Cooperative Marketing Federation and Tilam Sangh. A total of 69 procurement centres will be established in the 16 districts where the purchase is to be made.
Mr. Gehlot had raised the issue of “distress sale” of bajra by farmers in the State with Union Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar during his visit here earlier this week. Mr. Pawar announced that the MSP of Rs.880 per quintal would be paid to farmers as remunerative prices in view of this year's bumper crop due to good rains. The Chief Minister asked the officers concerned to establish an effective mechanism for procurement in accordance with the Centre's norms.