Rajasthan govt. announces gram, mustard procurement at MSP after criticism by former CM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
| Photo Credit: ANI

After criticism by veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the Bharatiya Janata Party Government in Rajasthan on Tuesday announced the procurement of mustard and gram at minimum support prices (MSP) for the upcoming rabi crop harvesting season from April 10. The State expects production of 62 lakh metric tonnes of mustard and 23 lakh metric tonnes of gram this year.

Minister of State for Cooperative Gautam Kumar Dak said in Jaipur that the State Government would purchase 13.89 lakh metric tonnes of mustard and 6.3 lakh metric tonnes of gram as per the targets set by the Centre. The registration of farmers for the purpose will start on April 1 through e-Mitra platform.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Gehlot criticised the lack of action to procure the mustard crop despite its arrival in the market, and pointed out that the registration for wheat procurement at MSP had already started, though its crop had not even been harvested.

“The BJP, which promised to increase the MSP for wheat to Rs. 2,700 per quintal in its 2023 Assembly election manifesto, has failed to keep its word. Earlier, there were complaints of corruption in the Government procurement of groundnut as well,” Mr. Gehlot said in a post on X.

‘No power, water’

The former Chief Ministert said the BJP Government was neither able to supply electricity to the farmers, nor was it providing water for irrigation or giving the right price for agricultural produce.

“Just like the Central Government, the BJP Government in Rajasthan has left farmers to fend for themselves. Farmers in the State feel neglected and cheated,” he said.

However, Mr. Dak said the State Government was taking care of farmers interests and was preparing to procure crops at MSP. He said the Union Government had fixed the MSP for mustard at ₹5,950 per quintal and the MSP for gram at ₹5,650 per quintal for the upcoming season.

The Minister said as many as 505 procurement centres each for mustard and gram had been approved in the State.