Centre Revises Market Intervention Scheme Guidelines Ahead of Farmer Talks
NEW DELHI: In a significant development aimed at fostering dialogue with protesting farmers, the Centre has revised the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) guidelines. This change raises the procurement limit for select non-MSP perishable agricultural and horticultural crops from 20% to 25%. Issued on Monday, these revised guidelines are a crucial step towards addressing farmers’ concerns.
Key Highlights of the Revised Guidelines
The updated guidelines also allow states the option to directly transfer the difference between the Market Intervention Price (MIP) and the selling price into farmers’ bank accounts. This move aims to mitigate the financial strain on farmers who often face distress selling due to fluctuating market prices.
MIS is activated at the request of state or UT governments for procuring various perishable commodities like tomato, onion, and potato (TOP) when market prices drop significantly compared to previous seasons. This policy intends to provide farmers with a safety net during challenging market conditions.
Encouraging State Participation
The Centre’s decision to enhance the MIS framework is expected to encourage more states to participate, offering a positive signal to farmer organizations advocating for legal guarantees on MSP for all crops. While the upcoming talks on February 14 may not focus directly on legal guarantees, strengthening procurement mechanisms will facilitate constructive negotiations.
Under the revised guidelines, the MIS will be integrated into the PM-AASHA scheme, which was launched in September 2018 to ensure price stability for pulses, oilseeds, and copra, ultimately promoting crop diversification.
Addressing Price Fluctuations
In response to the declining prices of tomatoes in key producing states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the Centre has also announced the implementation of a transportation component within the MIS. This provision will reimburse operational costs incurred in storing and transporting crops, benefiting farmers across producing states.
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