The government of Assam has announced plans to establish procurement centres across the state to purchase mustard seeds from farmers at a fixed minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 5,450 per quintal. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that mustard growers will be able to sell their products at 101 designated procurement locations. The state government will provide the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) with the bank account numbers of the farmers from whom they purchase mustard. The benefiting farmers will receive their payment within three working days of the sale of their goods straight into their bank accounts. The government’s goal is to purchase 45 lakh metric tonnes of mustard with this initiative. Sarma added that the state’s dairy producers will be able to apply for government assistance soon, with dairy farmers receiving a subsidy of Rs. 5 for every litre of milk they produce.
NAFED is a cooperative society that engages in the sale and purchase of agricultural commodities.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is a politician and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was elected as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam in May 2021.