The agriculture ministry will soon move a Cabinet note to ensure farmers get the minimum support price (MSP). The note will seek the Cabinet approval for a new policy that aims to rope in both states and private firms in procurement of other crops than wheat and paddy for ensuring support price. The objective of the proposed policy is to improve the speed of response and effectiveness of procurement in cases when prices drop below the MSP. The policy also aims to give liberty to States to implement either one of the models of procurement.
The ministry has proposed three models -- Market Assurance Scheme (MAS), Price Deficiency Procurement Scheme (PDPS) and Private Procurement and Stockists Scheme. In case of MAS, it is to be implemented by state governments who can take immediate decisions on the basis of local conditions, to enter the market and begin procurement through their own state agencies or any other private agency authorised by states. States will be responsible for procurement and liquidation of the procured commodity. They would create a corpus fund for this purpose and make all logistics arrangements to handle the procurement. The central government will compensate the operational loss, if any, on value of MSP, up to a maximum 30-40%.
Under the PDS scheme, if the sale price is below a model price then the farmers would be compensated to the difference between the MSP and actual price, subject to certain conditions and ceiling. The MAS and PDPS are primarily government-owned and driven schemes. The central government wants to bring in private sector players to supplement its schemes. Therefore the ministry, in the new policy, has proposed engagement of private sector in MSP-linked procurement through a transparent e-market platform. States will be allowed to empanel private firms via a transparent bidding for purchase of farm produce when prices fall below the MSP. The private firms will be given tax incentive and a commission.
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