New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI) Union Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that some parties in the country were trying to do politics with regard to the new agricultural laws.
Addressing a press conference here, Mr Goyal said, 'Some political parties are trying to spread confusion about the new farm laws and they are associated with middlemen'.
He added that the government will never let this attempt succeed.
The Union Minister said the government has made proper arrangements for procurement of crops at the minimum support price.
Till Thursday, 188 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured at the minimum support price, he said, adding that by this time last year, 151 lakh tonnes of paddy had been procured.
'This year, 1.57 crore farmers are going to get the benefit from procurement of paddy. This year, 26 percent more farmers will get the benefit from the previous year,' the Union Minister said.
This year, the target is to procure 1.50 crore tonnes of paddy.
Last year, 1.40 crore tonnes of paddy was procured. This time, the procurement of paddy will increase by about 21 per cent, as compared to the previous year, he added.
He said that 95 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured in Punjab this year. This time, 37 per cent more paddy has been procured in Punjab than last year.
Similarly, four lakh tonnes have been procured in Uttarakhand, four lakh tonnes in Uttar Pradesh and 3.5 lakh tonnes of paddy in Tamil Nadu, Mr Goyal further said.
This time, the procurement of paddy was started from September 26, which was ahead of schedule, he added.
UNI NY RJ 2350