Representatives of Farmer Producer Companies have urged the Centre to fix the minimum support price for fair average quality copra at ₹10,000 a quintal.
In a memorandum submitted to a delegation of the Commission for Agricultural Cost and Prices (CACP) that was here, they said the Coconut Producer Company should be nominated the State nodal agency for copra procurement.
They also raised issues being faced by farmers during copra procurement under the price support scheme and requested the Commission to fix the price based on cost of production.
They also highlighted the delay in getting the payment from the State. The CACP delegation headed by its Chairman Ashok Vishandass was here to discuss the issues with regard to recommendation of MSP for milling and ball copra for the 2015 season.
The Centre announces MSP for ball copra and milling copra every year based on the recommendations of CACP. Whenever prices fall below MSP, the Government intervenes and procures copra from farmers at MSP through the National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation, which is the nodal agency.
Sibi Monipilly, Director, NAFED, suggested that a minimum support price of ₹140 a kg be fixed for milling copra and provisions be made for revising the support price within six months taking into account the increase in consumer price index.
Avinesh Boss, Manager, NAFED, assured that the delay in payment for copra procurement will be solved immediately and action will be taken to release the fund through online transfer directly to farmers.