Spreading awareness on MSP among steps to check distress sale of cereals

Minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution K V Thomas in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, highlighted the steps taken by the Union government to check distress sales of cereals by farmers and provide them remunerative prices in this regard. The details are as under:

• To spread awareness, MSP (Minimum Support Price) operations are given wide publicity through pamphlets, banners, sign boards and advertisements through print & electronic media regarding MSP, quality, specifications, purchase system, and so on so that the farmers may bring their produce conforming to the specifications.

• In order to maximise the outreach of MSP operations, Food Corporation of India (FCI) in consultation with state governments operates sufficient number of purchase centres at appropriate places.

• State governments engage Self Help Groups (SHGs) / Societies etc. who can have better reach and increase the volume of procurement.

• To ensure that the benefit of MSP reaches the farmers, arrangements have been made to make payments to farmers through account payee cheque / electronic mode, wherever possible.

• State governments are encouraged to undertake decentralised procurement, so as to enhance the procurement of food grains from the farmers.