MP govt announces enhanced modal prices for crops for 2019

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath Friday announced increased modal prices for several crops in the state, with a Congress functionary adding that permission had been obtained from the Election Commission for the move.

Three phases of Lok Sabha polls are due in the state.

According to state Congress media cell chief Shobha Oza, the modal price for paddy crop in 2019 is Rs 1650 per quintal while it was Rs 1450 in 2018.

Similarly, for Jowar, it is Rs 1748 (Rs 1226 in 2018), Bajra is Rs 1954 (1020), Macca Rs 1917 (1086), wheat Rs 1731 (1859), gram Rs 3963 (3600), Tur Rs 4500 (3676) and Urad Rs 3654 (2946), Oza said.

"For Masoor Rs 3760 (3513), Soyabean Rs 3604 (3378), Mustard Rs 3454 (3335), Til Rs 9993 (6657), Cotton Rs 5848 (4507) Garlic Rs 3635 (803) and Tomato Rs 1380 (523)," she informed.

Oza added that the government had taken special permission from the Election Commission to announce modal price for crops.

"This will save the farmers from selling their produce at any cost to the middlemen. Besides, out of 257 mandis (market) in the state, 200 have the facility to sell crops at these rates," she said.

Whenever farmers need money, they can sell their produce directly in mandis in cash which will save them from the clutches of middlemen, Oza claimed.

"The government has also encouraged companies to buy directly from the mandis. For this, the companies have to get themselves registered at any one mandi and not in all of them. This is to check the menace of middlemen," she added.