BIZ-GROUNDNUT-GOVT

Gujarat seeks revision in FAQ norms for groundnut procurement
    Vadodara (Guj,) Nov 18 (PTI) The Gujarat government
has requested the Centre to relax quality norms for purchasing
groundnut from farmers as deficient rainfall has affected the
produce, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel has said.
    The state government has written a letter to the
Centre in this regard, he said here Saturday.
    "The government wrote to the Centre following demands
by farmers from the state to revise the fair average quality
(FAQ) norms for groundnut," Patel told PTI.
    As per FAQ norms, groundnut should have enough weight
so that 35 kg of oilseeds could be packed in one bag. Those
produce not meeting this criteria are liable for rejection at
procurement centres.
    The government has started procuring groundnut through
122 centres, mainly in the Saurashtra region, from last
Thursday.
    Farmers have been demanding that the government revise
the weight norms to 30 kg per bag instead of the current norm
of 35 kg per bag.
    Farmers have argued that due to deficient monsoon,
they were unable to adequately irrigate groundnut crop.
    Due to lack of proper irrigation, nuts didn't develop
properly, resulting in their lower weight, they have said.
    Patel said his government has been buying groundnut
from farmers even if its weight is 30 kg per bag.
    Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd (GSCSCL)
is acting as the nodal agency for groundnut procurement.
    GSCSCL is procuring groundnut on behalf of National
Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd, a
cooperative body that has been made the nodal agency by the
central government for such procurements.
    GSCSCL has set up 122 centres for procuring groundnut
at effective minimum support price of Rs 5,000 per quintal.
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