Madhya Pradesh government announced that district administrations will have to buy all the onion and pulses that farmers bring to procurement centres. Nothing will be sent back or bought at lower value.
Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told divisional commissioners and district collectors, "Onion purchased from farmers at Rs 8 per kg will be sold to poor families at the subsidised rate of Rs 2 per kg through fair price shops across the state. The district administration should take steps to increase the number of procurement centres for purchase of onion, moong, tur and urad at minimum support price."
Chouhan said that collectors must ensure farmers get a "fair price" of their produce. He also made it clear that there is no limit to purchase of onions and other produce.
CM said, "Collectors must procure the entire onion stock being brought by farmers at procurement centres. In view of recent incidents, district officials should keep a watch on law and order and take stern action if needed."
The government had ordered purchase of onions from June 7 at 22 procurement centres across the state. The government had also assured that moong and tur will be procured from farmers from June 10 at minimum support price.
The CM had announced that purchase of farm produce below minimum support price (MSP) would be considered a criminal act. Consent of farmers must be taken before acquisition of agricultural land, he announced. He also announced 'Kisan Bazaar' in all municipal bodies, adopting the system of Amul Dairy Cooperatives to purchase milk and setting up a Rs 1,000-crore price stabilisation fund to purchase farm produce at MSP. There will also be an Agricultural Costs Marketing Commission to ensure better prices for farm produce.
Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/