Groundnut procurement is set to kick-off for the ongoing kharif season at about 122 centers in Gujarat on Thursday. Notably, with prices dropping much below minimum support price (MSP) levels of ₹4,890 a quintal, farmers rushed for online registration to participate in the procurement process which opened on November 1.

After facing criticism for corruption and malpractices in groundnut procurement last year, the State has announced procurement through the State Civil Supplies Corporation. The procurement at all centres will be videographed and the government will use warehouses of the State Warehousing Corporation (SWC) instead of Nafed warehouses which were used last year.

Groundnut prices at Rajkot market quoted in the range of ₹3,750-4,720 per quintal on Wednesday. The State government has announced bonus of ₹110 per quintal over and above the MSP, making the effective procurement price at ₹5,000 per quintal.

The prices fell after the State projected crop size of 27 lakh tonnes at the yield of 1,836 kg per hectare for this year as against 32 lakh tonnes last year. The sowing was registered at 14.68 lakh hectares, marginally less than last year.

Arrivals have started in large numbers at most markets, which were closed due to a strike by the traders and farmers demanding implementation of Bhavantar Bhugtaan Scheme for the oilseeds.

The strike was withdrawn after an agreement between the traders and with the government.

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