Red gram to be procured at minimum support price of 5,450

Amaravati: The state government directed Markfed to procure red gram from farmers at minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 5,450 per quintal. Addressing a review meeting at the Secretariat on Thursday, chief secretary Dinesh Kumar said that the red gram could be procured as per minimum support price announced by the Central government.

He said the Centre decided Rs 5,450 as MSP for red gram and officials should create awareness among farmers on the MSP and procure the produce through the purchasing centres.

“In fact, the government offered Rs 1,000 extra than the price in open market. So the Markfed should ensure that famers get benefited by using the opportunity,” he said. Markfed MD Madhusudhan Reddy said two lakh metric tonnes of red gram was produced in the state for 2017-18 kharif season.

He said the Centre has only given permission to procure 45,200 tonne red gram as against the state government’s proposal of procuring of one lakh tonne. He said as per directives of the Centre, the Markfed arranged 78 purchasing centres in seven districts to procure red gram.