Extend tur procurement date to May 31, Maha writes to Centre

The Maharashtra government has asked the Union Agriculture ministry to extend the date for procurement of tur dal in the state till May 31, minister Sadabhau Khot said today.

"Farmers in large numbers have registered themselves in Maharashtra for tur purchase at guaranteed rates. It would be difficult to purchase tur from all of them within the stipulated date which is April 18. So we have asked the Centre to extend it to May 31," Khot, Maharashtra Minister of State for Agriculture, today said.

He has written to Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh about this.

In the letter, Khot informed the Centre that around 26 lakh quintals of tur was still to be purchased and also said that the availability of godowns to store it was low.