Grain India - The central government has made a significant decision to ensure the 100% procurement of pulses, particularly tur, urad, and lentil, for the next four years.
This decision is part of an effort to support farmers and stabilize the market by guaranteeing the purchase of marketable stocks under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-ASHA) scheme, which has been extended until the 2025-26 period.
In the current Kharif marketing season, the government has already procured 12,000 tonnes of tur from 15,000 farmers across various states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
NAFED and NCCF, two government-authorized agencies, are actively involved in the procurement process.
The government aims to purchase a total of 13.22 lakh tonnes of tur from nine states, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
This initiative, which also covers pulses, oilseeds, and copra, is intended to stabilize the prices of essential commodities and protect farmers from fluctuating market prices by securing the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.
By ensuring a guaranteed market for their produce, the government hopes to incentivize farmers to increase pulse production, ultimately contributing to food security in the country.
The procurement process is already underway in some states and will continue for an extended period, with the government providing support to farmers through registration with state agencies before they can participate in the program.
This measure is expected to offer stability to both farmers and consumers over the next few years.
