Officials asked to ensure MSP for pigeon pea

    Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar on Thursday asked the officials to take steps to buy pigeon pea at the minimum support price (MSP) of ?5,450 per quintal as fixed the Central government.

At a review meeting, Mr. Dinesh Kumar stressed on measures at the purchase centres to ensure the MSP. “The price in the market is ?4,200 per quintal. The Centre fixed it at ?1,000 more. The officials must see that the farmers bring their produce to the purchase centres,” he said.

The Chief Secretary said about one lakh farmers would be benefited with the MSP. They would get ?140 crore more.

AP Markfed Managing Director Madhusudhan Reddy said the pigeon pea was cultivated in 2.64 lakh hectares during 2017-18. The yield was estimated at two lakh metric tons. The proposal to purchase one lakh metric tons was sent to the Centre which gave permission to purchase 45,200 mt. While 78 purchase centres were opened in seven districts, special coupons would be issued to the farmers to sell their produce at the MSP, he said. CCLA Special Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Puneta, Revenue Special Chief Secretary Manmohan Singh, and others were present.