Centre coordinates with states to ensure undisrupted farm activities

The agriculture ministry is coordinating with the state governments to facilitate and ensure that harvesting and allied activities are not disrupted due to the pandemic, a senior official told ET.

“Harvesting is in full swing. Out of the total wheat sown in 31.58 million hectares, 55% has already been harvested in the country, with Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh almost completing the harvest,” said the senior agriculture ministry official. “Other major wheat-producing states are likely to complete the harvesting by the end of this month.” He said the farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws, too, has not impacted farm activities in Haryana, Punjab and Western Uttar Pradesh – the core of the agitation.

“The government has procured around 7.5 million tonnes wheat in Punjab – 58% of the total targeted procurement in the state. More than 2.3 lakh farmers in the state have received over Rs 7,800 crore directly in their bank accounts. Over 22,000 artisans engaged in procurement will get their commission once they raise the bill at the completion of this exercise,” the official said.

He said harvesting of other crops like pulses and mustard has been completed, while harvesting of sugar cane is in the final stages. Farmers are getting a lucrative price for mustard due to the surge in demand for mustard oil. As against the minimum support price of Rs 4,650 per quintal, farmers are getting Rs 6,500-Rs 7,000 a quintal at major mandis.

“Of the pulses sown in 15.81 million hectares, harvesting has been completed for gram, lentils, urad, moong and field pea. Similarly, 41% harvesting of rice has been completed. For sugarcane, out of the total sown in 4.85 million ha, harvesting has been completed in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Telangana. For Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, harvesting is in final stages,” the official said.



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