Hindaun City, Rajasthan: With fresh arrivals of mustard picking up pace in mandis and gram (chana) crops nearing maturity in fields, the Rajasthan State Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited (Rajfed) has initiated preparations for Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement for the Rabi season.
A total of 67 procurement centres have been proposed across eight districts of the Bharatpur division, including Karauli district, where mustard and gram will be purchased at MSP through cooperative marketing societies.
67 MSP Purchase Centres Across Bharatpur Division
Rajfed has proposed setting up 67 procurement centres at the town and village levels through 31 Kray Vikray Sahkari Samitis (KVSS) and 23 Gram Seva Sahkari Samitis (GSS).
In Karauli district, procurement centres will be established in Karauli, Hindaun, Nadoti, and Todabhim through cooperative societies to facilitate MSP purchases of mustard and gram.
Procurement is scheduled to begin from April 1, and five KVSS units in the district have been assigned responsibility for the process.
NAFED Appoints Rajfed as Procurement Agency
After the Food Corporation of India began wheat farmer registrations from February 1 for the Rabi marketing season, preparations for mustard and gram procurement have also gained momentum.
The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) has appointed Rajfed as the nodal agency for MSP procurement of mustard and gram in Rajasthan.
Bumper Mustard Output, Good Gram Yield Expected
According to Agriculture Department officials, Rabi crops have been sown over 1,86,620 hectares in Karauli district this season.
- Mustard covers the largest area at 91,180 hectares
- Gram is cultivated on 8,260 hectares
Favourable weather conditions and minimal disease incidence have resulted in bumper mustard production this year, while gram output is also expected to remain strong.
Heavy Mustard Arrivals in Mandis
Traders report that mustard arrivals, which began in the last week of January at the Kailash Nagar Agricultural Produce Market, are now at peak levels.
The mandi has been receiving 20,000–25,000 bags of mustard daily over the past week. In Todabhim sub-mandi, daily arrivals are reported at 7,000–8,000 bags.
Mustard prices in mandi auctions are currently ranging between ₹5,500 and ₹6,400 per quintal.
Farmer Registration from March 25
According to Surendra Sharma, an official from Hindaun Kray Vikray Sahkari Samiti Ltd, MSP procurement of mustard and gram is proposed to begin in the first week of April.
Farmers can register online for selling mustard and gram on the Rajfed portal starting March 25. Procurement dates for weighing and sale will be allotted based on registration priority.
The MSP procurement drive is expected to provide price support to thousands of Rajasthan farmers amid bumper production, ensuring stable returns and smooth market operations during the Rabi marketing season.
