Munde demands scrapping of conditions for tur procurement

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde today demanded scrapping of various conditions for procurement of tur dal in the state, alleging that only 20 per cent of the produce has been procured so far.
Tur dal farmers in the state are facing a crisis due to a bumper production and resultant low prices.
Munde said here that as per a recent government resolution (GR), the Maharashtra State Co-op Agricultural Marketing Federation will check land records of farmers who come to the government procurement centres, and verify if the quantity of tur brought was actually grown on the particular farmer's land.

"If the tur brought is more than the limit set by the Federation, government will initiate criminal action against the farmer," he said, alleging that the purpose of these conditions was to deter farmers from coming to procurement centres.
Due to these restrictions, there could be corruption, he said, demanding that the GR be scrapped and the entire tur produce of the season should be purchased by the government.
Blaming lack of planning by the government for farmers' woes, Munde said, "The state deliberately neglected procurement and gave all powers to NAFED, a central agency."

The state marketing federation had no machinery for procurement, and more government agencies should be roped in, he said.

The NCP leader also asked if the government will take action against the officials who stated in the Economic Survey that tur production in the last one year in the state was 117 lakh quintals, while a Central government report put it at 200 lakh quintals.
Maharashtra had procured only 20 per cent of total tur production while neighbouring Karnataka procured 80 per cent produce and gave a bonus of Rs 450 per quintal, Munde said, demanding a similar bonus for the state farmers.