Dharwad: In a development that is likely to be greeted by farmers with a cheer, the Dharwad Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) has set up procurement centres for Bengal gram at three locations – Dharwad, Uppinabetageri and Hebballi – under the central government’s minimum support price (MSP) scheme.
Dharwad APMC chairman Mahaveer Jain on Friday said that the three centres had been set up only after obtaining the government’s approval to purchase produce categorised under fair average quality (FAQ). The MSP for Bengal gram is Rs 4,875 per quintal, and each farmer who has registered himself or herself under the scheme can sell up to ten quintals. Jain said that as many 3,098 farmers had enrolled themselves under the scheme, of whom 1,136 were in Dharwad, 1,445 from Uppinabetageri and 917 from Hebballi. “We expect more farmers to enroll themselves under the scheme in the coming days. The government has set April 4 as the deadline for enrolment under the scheme, and procurement of Bengal gram will go on till April 22. Procurement of the crop is already under way, and we request farmers to ensure that they benefit from the scheme,” Jain added.
Queried on some of the issues that have cropped up following the use of GPC technology, Jain said that farmers had had to face problems owing to errors in identification of standing crops made by the technology. “This issue has been brought to the notice of the district administration, and a memorandum submitted to the Union ministry of agriculture, wherein we have asked them to initiate remedial measures,” he added.
Cattle market suspended
Against the backdrop of increasing restrictions to curb the Covid-19 menace, Jain said that he had not received instructions to shut the Dharwad APMC Yard, yet. “However, in keeping with the orders of the government on barring a large assembly of people, we have decided not to hold the weekly cattle market, which was scheduled on March 24 and March 31. We request farmers not to get their cattle here, and cooperate with us,” the Dharwad APMC chief said.
Dharwad APMC chairman Mahaveer Jain on Friday said that the three centres had been set up only after obtaining the government’s approval to purchase produce categorised under fair average quality (FAQ). The MSP for Bengal gram is Rs 4,875 per quintal, and each farmer who has registered himself or herself under the scheme can sell up to ten quintals. Jain said that as many 3,098 farmers had enrolled themselves under the scheme, of whom 1,136 were in Dharwad, 1,445 from Uppinabetageri and 917 from Hebballi. “We expect more farmers to enroll themselves under the scheme in the coming days. The government has set April 4 as the deadline for enrolment under the scheme, and procurement of Bengal gram will go on till April 22. Procurement of the crop is already under way, and we request farmers to ensure that they benefit from the scheme,” Jain added.
Queried on some of the issues that have cropped up following the use of GPC technology, Jain said that farmers had had to face problems owing to errors in identification of standing crops made by the technology. “This issue has been brought to the notice of the district administration, and a memorandum submitted to the Union ministry of agriculture, wherein we have asked them to initiate remedial measures,” he added.
Cattle market suspended
Against the backdrop of increasing restrictions to curb the Covid-19 menace, Jain said that he had not received instructions to shut the Dharwad APMC Yard, yet. “However, in keeping with the orders of the government on barring a large assembly of people, we have decided not to hold the weekly cattle market, which was scheduled on March 24 and March 31. We request farmers not to get their cattle here, and cooperate with us,” the Dharwad APMC chief said.
