The Centre has proposed an ‘out-of-the-box’ plan wherein government agencies will buy pulses, maize, and cotton crops at minimum support prices (MSP) for five years after signing an agreement with the farmers. The proposal came after the fourth round of talks between the farmer leaders and the Union Ministers on Sunday.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters on Sunday night after a four-hour-long meeting that they had positive talks with the farmer leaders. The Centre has proposed a very innovative, out-of-the-box idea, he said.
As per the proposal, the Cotton Corporation of India will enter a 5-year legal agreement with farmers to purchase the crops at MSP. Besides, the government-promoted cooperative societies like the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) will form a contract for the next five years and buy products from the farmers on MSP.
“There will be no limit on the quantity (purchased) and a portal will be developed for this,” Goyal told reporters.
The government states that the move will save Punjab’s farming, improve the groundwater table, and save the land from getting barren which is already under stress. “The farmers pointed out that they want to diversify into maize crops but want to avoid suffering losses when the prices drop below the MSP,” said Goyal.
