Record paddy procurement at MSP projected this year: Piyush Goyal
The Food Cooperation of India and state agencies are all set to procure a record quantity of 742 lakh metric tonne paddy during the ongoing Kharif crop season as against 627 LMT paddy last year, said Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal on Friday.
He also said the procurement season had been advanced to September 26 in view of the early arrival of paddy in the market.
About ensuring that prices of onion stays within reasonable limit, the minister said proactive ban on onion export has been imposed from September 14.
The Essential Commodities Act has invoked for onion stock limit of 25 metric tonne for wholesalers and 2 metric tonne for retailers with effect from October 23, he said
Goyal also said steps were being taken to moderate potato prices. The import duty on potato was earlier 30 per cent. Now, quota of 10 lakh metric tonne at the rate of 10 per cent duty for import of potato has been notified till January 31, he added.
