Relief for farmers as Nafed plans massive mustard seed purchases at MSP

The produce is trading at Rs 3,500-3,700 a quintal in the ongoing rabi season across all wholesale mandis, which is around 15-20 per cent discount to MSP of Rs 4,200

The central government’s National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (Nafed) plans to procure a large quantity of mustard seed at the minimum support price (MSP).The MSP is Rs 4,200 a quintal (qtl); the wholesale price is now Rs 3,500-3,700 a qtl. Hence, the entry of Nafed will be a big relief for growers making distress sales amid a forecast of a record high output.

“We are waiting for the (central) government’s order to start MSP operations. We would purchase the last seed available for sale,” V R Boda, chairman of Nafed, told this publication.

Normally, mustard seed harvesting starts by early March. Oilseed