Wheat Procurement At MSP: Nearly Rs 50,000 Crore Transferred Directly Into Farmers' Bank Accounts So Far, Says Govt

The government on Monday (10 May) said that nearly Rs 50,000 crore has been transferred directly to the bank accounts of farmers for procurement of their crop on Minimum Support Price (MSP), with the farmers from Punjab and Haryana receiving over Rs 33,000 crore.

Amid the ongoing procurement in Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2021-22, around 337.95 lakh metric tonne (LMT) wheat has been procured as on 9 May, as compared to 248.021 LMT wheat that was procured during last year on corresponding day.

The information was given by Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution Shudhanshu Pandey in a press briefing.

Pandey further informed that around 34.07 lakh farmers have been benefitted so far against 28.15 lakh last year as on date, a Food and Public Distribution Ministry statement said on Monday (10 May).

He said procurement has undertaken through 19,030 purchase centres across India. The food secretary said Haryana and Punjab also switched from indirect payment of MSP to direct online transfers of benefit to farmers. He added that farmers are now receiving direct benefits against sale of their crops without any delay across the country.

Pandey informed that total DBT payment of Rs 49,965 crore has been transferred directly into farmers’ account across India on account of wheat procurement so far.

He further informed that Rs 21,588 crore in Punjab and about Rs 11,784 crore in Haryana has been transferred directly into farmers’ account.