A meeting of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) for southern region was held here on Friday to discuss the price policy for rabi crops-2020-21.
Vijay Pal Sharma, Chairman of CACP, explained the features of the policy to the officials and farmers, and said the focus would be to help farmers get good price in the market rather than government purchasing their produce.
C. Parthasarathi, Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Cooperation, spoke on various schemes such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Mission Kakatiya, Mission Bhagiratha, scientific godowns and e-NAM.
He said in line with the expanding irrigation facility in the State and expected increase in the agriculture production, the government should tailor its procurement policy.
He urged the Central officials to provide support price for turmeric and red chilli crop.
The representatives of Telangana farmers, who attended the meeting, said the support price for paddy should be on par with wheat. The farmers’ representatives from Andhra Pradesh said the cost of cultivation for wheat was less than that of paddy, while the farmers’ representatives from Karnataka said as they were cultivating crops in over 2 lakh hectares, the support price should be extended like in the previous years. And farmers from Tamil Nadu requested that the price for Bengal gram be increased from ₹4,600 to ₹6,000 per quintal.
Officials from various States who attended the meeting also gave their suggestions and opinions on the price policy for rabi crops.
Marketing Director G. Lakhsmi Bai said if farmers did not get a remunerative price for their produce, they could store the crop in the market committee godowns, SWC godowns, or any private cold storage and avail loan on them under the Rythu Bandhu scheme.
Crop purchase
She said the purchase of green gram and maize crops should begin from September instead of October.
Mr. Vijay Pal Sharma said the views and suggestions of the meeting would be taken to the notice of the Union Government.