<span style="color: #222222;">The arrival of Kharif Marketing Season, KMS 2020-21 has already commenced and Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at Minimum Support Price, MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes as done in previous seasons.<br />''<br />''Food and Public Distribution Ministry said, paddy procurement through FCI and state government agencies for KMS 20-21 has picked up fast in some of the procuring states like Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. It is expected to start in other procuring States very soon. As on Monday, the cumulative procurement of paddy has already crossed 11.14 Lakh Metric Tonnes, procured through over 87 thousand farmers having MSP value of over 2,103 Crores.<br />''<br />''Based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 29.64 Lakh Metric Tonnes of Pulse and Oilseeds for Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Sanction for procurement of 1.23 Lakh Metric Tonnes of Copra the perennial crop for the State of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given.<br />''<br />''For other States and UTs approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under Price Support Scheme so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.<br />''<br />''Up to 5th October, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured over 140 Tonnes of Moong having MSP value of over one crore rupees benefitting 111 farmers in Tamil Nadu and Haryana. Similarly, 5,089 tonnes of copra having MSP value of over 52 crore rupees has been procured benefitting 3,961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu against the sanctioned quantity of 1.23 Lakh Metric Tonnes for Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling at or above MSP.<br />''<br />''The Procurement of Cotton Seeds Kapas during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 has also Started from 1st October and upto 5th October 2020, Cotton Corporation of India has procured 627 bales under MSP for MSP value of over 173 lakh rupees benefiting 137 farmers of Haryana and Punjab.</span><br />