Purchase of grains like Paddy, maize and Bajra at minimum support price (MSP) began on Wednesday in Gujarat. The government, this time has assigned food and civil supplies ministry to carry out the task of the purchase, in place of the agriculture department.
The irregularities in purchase of groundnuts by different stakeholders had surfaced in the state during last season and the agriculture department faced criticism for the same reason. The government raised 118 centers across the state for the purchase of grains and has made sure that no irregularity is reported anywhere.
The revenue minister Kaushik Patel and food and civil supplies minister Jayesh Radadiya had remained present at Bavla Market Yard in Ahmedabad district.
In his address, Patel said, "We have taken strict actions against those who indulged into irregular practices in purchase of agricultural produces at MSP. This time also, we have made sure that no any irregularity is reported in purchase of paddy, maize and bajra."
"Bavla and other towns in Ahmedabad district produce paddy in huge volume. Our government understood the need of farmers and made sure that the supply of electricity and water does not disrupt when there was less rainfall this year. Now farmers should switch to the micro irrigation system to save power and water," Patel added.
The civil supplies minister Jayesh Radadiya said, "There are total 118 centres been raised by our government for the purchase of grains at MSP. We are ready to open more centres as and when required."
He also said that the central government increased the MSP this year as paddy prices had been made Rs. 1,750 from Rs. 1,550 per metric ton, Bajra from Rs. 1,425 to Rs. 1,950 and maize from Rs. 1,420 to Rs. 1,700 per metric ton.
MINISTER SPEAK
The civil supplies minister Jayesh Radadiya said, “There are 118 centres raised by our government for the purchase of grains at MSP. We are ready to open more centres.”
