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Rajasthan tells Nafed to continue mustard procurement

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government has requested Nafed - the Centre's nodal agency for procuring the agricultural produce - to continue the procurement of mustard at the minimum support prices, while pointing out that its cessation at this stage would lead to resentment among farmers which in turn could create a law and order problem in the State.

The Nafed had informed the State Government over the week-end that the ceiling for mustard procurement in Rajasthan had been fixed at 11.94-lakh metric tonnes and the procurement beyond the limit should be done only after getting its consent. On the other hand, mustard has already been procured beyond the ceiling.

The State Cooperative Secretary, Ashok Jain, in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of Nafed, pointed out that the support prices for mustard had been announced and mustard procured in accordance with the Central Government's polices. "The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to purchasing the agricultural produce till such time when the farmers are willing to sell them at the support prices," Mr. Jain said.

Mr. Jain said Rajasthan had recorded a bumper harvest of mustard this year and the market prices were far below the support prices announced by the Government. Against this scenario, the procurement was going ahead all over the State and stopping it at this stage by fixing a ceiling would adversely affect the farmers' interests.

The Cooperative Secretary pointed out that a decision fixing the limit and stopping the procurement could only be taken directly by the Central Government. He referred to the opinion of some District Collectors who had apprehended a law and order problem in the event of closure of procurement and requested the Nafed to ensure continuance of the purchases.

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