Parliament Question: Role of Private Agencies in Agricultural Procurement

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2917 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10th MARCH, 2026 ROLE OF PRIVATE AGENCIES IN AGRICULTURAL PROCUREMENT 2917. SHRI RAMASAHAYAM RAGHURAM REDDY Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष और िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state: (a) the manner in which private agencies are engaged to procure agricultural products under the PM AASHA initiative; (b) the details of the criteria used to select these agencies; (c) the details of measures taken to ensure transparency and fairness in the procurement process conducted by private agencies; and (d) the manner in which the Government proposes to balance private procurement with public support schemes to ensure farmers' interests are protected? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY) (a) to (d):Procurement of pulses and oilseeds under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) at Minimum Support Price (MSP) is undertaken by the Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) through State Level Agencies (SLAs), with support from primary-level agencies, directly from pre-registered farmers. At the Central level, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd. function as the CNAs. At the State level, agencies designated by the respective State Governments, generally State-level Cooperative Marketing Federations acting as SLAs are engaged in the procurement process with the support of primary-level agencies such as primary-level cooperatives and Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs). For ensuring remunerative price to the farmers and prevent them from resorting to distress sale, procurement centres are opened by respective State Government Agencies and CNAs, taking into account the production, marketable surplus, convenience of farmers and availability of other logistics/infrastructure such as storage and transportation etc. Large number of temporary purchase centres, in addition to the existing Mandis and depots/godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of the farmers. Wide publicity is done by State Government , Central Nodal Agencies and State Agencies for providing information on FAQ quality parameters, procurement dates, procurement centers so that farmers may bring their produce and sell in the Procurement Centers.. All the payments of MSP are made directly to the registered farmers’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). *****