'Around Rs 17,876.7 cr released during lockdown so far to benefit 8.938 crore families of farmers'
Bhopal: While the economy has been facing the onslaught of Covid-19 pandemic, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, (A&FW), Narendra Singh Tomar reiterated the commitment of Modi government of doubling the income of farmers by 2022.
The minister further said that his ministry has taken several crucial decisions to ensure 'food safety' for the country in this difficult time of the economy.
Speaking to the Millennium Post on Friday, Lok Sabha MP from Morena constituency of Madhya Pradesh, Tomar, said that harvesting of crops and procurement of the produces were the big challenge in the situation of ongoing lockdown but due to the proactive measures taken by the ministry, it was going to be completed in the expected period.
"The COVID-19 crisis has created unprecedented situation before the country and agriculture sector is bearing the brunt of pandemic too but due to the active coordination of A&FW Ministry with the States and UTs, around 80 per cent harvesting of rabi crops has been completed so far and it is likely to be achieved fully in a week," said Tomar.
On doubling the farmers' income by 2022, a dream project of the Modi-led Union government, the agriculture minister said that the Centre had taken many initiatives in this regard to support the States through appropriate measures and financial assistance. Around Rs 17,876.7 crore had been released under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme during the lockdown period so far to benefit 8.938 crore families of the farmers, he said.
"The recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted for doubling farmers' income are being implemented with the coordination of States even in the COVID-19 crises, which will boost the financial condition of the farmers", the A&FM Minister said. "To contain the spread of Coronavirus among the farmers and farmworkers, the government has launched three e-Modules such as 'Warehouse Base Trending', 'FPO' and 'Uberisation with Logistics Aggregators' on the e-NAM portal to make easy and safe the process of procurement and transportation of the produces," added Tomar.
He explained, it is exempted that the States might allow to the bulk buyers, processors and big retailers for direct buying facility outside the Mandi premises with minimum or without the requirement of any licensing or registration.
"Farmers have been given the facility to sell their products at their doorsteps through the e-NAM portal. In order to prevent the large congregation of farmers at the mandis, the A&FW Ministry has advised the States to increase the procurement centres and it is also directed that the process of purchasing could be planned in three phases till the end of June month," said Tomar, adding: "For the procurement of pulses and oilseeds, the states have been already sanctioned for purchasing of 25 per cent of such produces even without waiting for the proposal."
"Efforts have also been made to support the horticulture sector. His ministry is in constant touch with states to ensure coordination between the latters to facilitate smooth supply and hassle-free transportation of fruits and vegetables," said the Union Minister.
He further said that apart from states' agencies, the central-level bodies FCI and NAFED had procured a quantity of 1,67,570.95 MT of pulses and 1,11,638.52 MT of oilseeds so far on MSP in 20 states.
