Gujarat government's groundnut procurement is receiving mixed response from farmers. On one hand, they have welcomed the transparency in procurement by the State Civil Supplies Corporation, but are disappointed with the slow pace of procurement.

Unlike last year, when the central procurement agency National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (Nafed) undertook procurement, the State government has roped in the Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (GSCSC) for the job to ensure transparent functioning.

According to government data, till November 11, as much as 1.04 lakh tonnes (lt) of groundnut valued at ₹521 crore was procured from over 52,000 farmers. The production is projected at about 27 lt for 2018-19, which is about 5 lt lower than that recorded last year.

“Groundnut procurement at 122 APMC Centres across the State began from November 15. The district collectors had initiated registration of farmers from November 1. Based on this registration and with a statutory ceiling of 2,500 kg per farmer, the procurement is being conducted,” said a senior official from the GSCSL.

The State government has fixed the procurement price at ₹5000 per quintal including a bonus of₹110. per quintal.

“Farmers are better off this time. Procurement is taking place in a more transparent manner. Officials of the civil supplies department are deployed on each procurement centre and they are ensuring fair procurement,” said Harshad Khapra, a farmer from Lodhika taluka in Rajkot district.

“Even if the procurement is transparent, the process is very slow. Many farmers are facing rejections on quality issues. If moisture content is half percentage higher than the permissible limit, crop is rejected. This is not a supportive,” felt Vitthal Dudhatara from Bhartiya Kisan Sangh.

Due to higher crop projection, groundnut prices in the market have dipped to as low as ₹3,375 a quintal against the MSP of ₹4,890.

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