Telangana wants Centre to procure pulses, maize, jowar

The Telangana Government has asked the Centre to facilitate 100 per cent procurement of pulses, maize, jowar and oilseeds. He said this would build farmers’ confidence. It asked the Centre to raise the current procurement limit from 25 per cent to 100 per cent for pulses and oilseeds.

Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao made this appeal to Union Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Delhi on Wednesday.

“Increased procurement would ensure remunerative prices and market security for farmers. It would also promote crop diversification,” the Minister said.

“Chouhan assured that the Centre would procure pulses. He said he would take up the issue of jowar and maize with the minister concerned,” a statement from the State Agriculture Ministry said.

Rao also asked the Centre to consider fixing the minimum guaranteed price for oil palm at ₹25,000 a tonne of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) to make the crop more attractive.

“We asked the Centre to consider setting up a Regional Oil Palm Research Centre in the State, which is promoting the edible oil crop in a big way,” the statement said.

The Minister also asked the Union Minister to expedite the comprehensive Seed Act, incorporating the State government’s suggestions.