<span style="color: #222222;">Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has said that a transparent and uniform Policy exists for procurement of rice by government agencies across the country. In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today, Ms. Jyoti said, there is no confusion among States regarding rice procurement policy of the government. She said, the estimates for procurement of Rice are finalized by Government in consultation with State Governments, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Corporation of India, before the commencement of each marketing season. The Minister said, procurement in a State depends not only upon production but also upon other multiple factors like marketable surplus, MSP, prevailing market rate, demand and supply situation and participation of private traders.<br />''<br />''Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said Government has advised all State Governments to encourage farmers for crop diversification. She said, Centre has substantially increased the Minimum Support Price of pulses, oilseeds, millets to encourage and incentivize the farmers to maximize sowing of such crops and to get the remunerative prices.</span>