CENTRE ANNOUNCES RELAXATIONS IN QUALITY
NORMS FOR PROCUREMENT OF BAJRA FOR RAJASTHAN
CENTRAL
TEAM TO VISIT RAJASTHAN FROM TODAY
To mitigate the hardship
of farmers of Rajasthan and on the request of the State Government,
the Government of India has relaxed the quality norms for procurement
of bajra under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations. The Government
procuring agencies have been asked to procure bajra containing
upto 5% slightly damaged/discolured grain instead of 2.5% provided
in the uniform specifications. The procurement price of bajra
with these relaxed specifications will be Rs. 500/- per quintal.
This includes a nominal value cut of Rs. 5 per quintal from the
earlier announced MSP of Rs. 505 per quintal. This price is Rs.
15 per quintal higher than the MSP announced during the last Kharif
season. The relaxations in norms have been ordered by Shri Sharad
Yadav, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
in view of the reports that the standing bajra crop had been affected
due to widespread rains.
To further assess
the situation, Shri Sharad Yadav has also directed that a Central
Team should visit Rajasthan immediately to make an on-the-spot
assessment of the situation. The Central Team comprising of Shri
P. Raghavendra Rao, Director and Dr. Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director
in the Department of Food & Public Distribution will be reaching
Jaipur today.
Opening of procurement
centres for bajra
The Government of
India has already announced opening of 75 procurement centres
for procurement of bajra in the entire State, of which 25 would
be operated by the FCI and the remaining would be operated by
the Rajasthan Agencies, who will act as Sub-Agents of the FCI.
Procurement of bajra has already commenced in the State from 1st
October, 2003 and it is expected that over one lakh tonnes of
bajra may be procured in the State.
Opening of centres
for procurement of maize
The Government of
India has also permitted the Rajasthan Agencies to open 25 centres
for maize at locations to be decided by the State Government.
In addition, the FCI would open 5 centres for procurement of maize
at locations where FCI have their own depots/godowns. Maize will
be procured at the earlier announced MSP of Rs. 505 per quintal.
