Foodgrain pricing panel asked to rework wheat MSP: Sharad Pawar
upon their yields as well as prices of various inputs like labour, seeds, fertiliser, pesticides, irrigation charges and mechanisation," he said.
The rise in cost of production is addressed through the mechanism of MSP.
Pawar said MSPs are announced by government for major agricultural commodities to ensure remunerative prices to growers with a view to encouraging higher investment and production and to safeguard the interest of consumers by making available supplies at reasonable prices.
"Farmers' interest will be protected at all times," he said.
Pawar said foodgrain production in the country will be 250 million tons this year despite drought in some parts of North Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajastan and not enough rains in Punjab and Haryana.
Last year, the country had a record output of 257 million tons.
He said 80 lakh tons of rice was exported while 2.5 million tons of wheat was shipped out. Similarly, 2.5 million tons of sugar and 80 lakh bales of cotton were exported. "This shows production is improving," he added.
To a separate question, Pawar said 29,715 godowns under the Rural Godown Scheme have so far been sanctioned. Of these, 16,567 have been completed and rest are under construction.
The cost of construction of godowns under the scheme has been revised with effect from October 20, 2011 from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,500 per ton for godowns up to the capacity of 1,000 tons and from Rs 1,875 to Rs 3,000 per ton for godowns exceeding the capacity of 1,000 tons.
There is no restriction on number of
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