HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, April 3: The state government and the state’s Agriculture Department have initiated special measures to procure mustard seeds from farmers at reasonable prices. In view of the steps taken by the government, Sonitpur district Agriculture Department has set a target of procuring 1500 metric tonnes of mustard seeds with the help of Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board (ASAMB) and Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (AFCSCL) at the minimum support price of Rs 5,650 per quintal.
To accelerate the process of procuring mustard seeds from the farmers, a program was organised at Dhekiajuli Mustard Seed Procurement Centre under Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board. During the program, district agriculture officer Pranjal Sarma inaugurated the process of mustard seed procurement on Tuesday at the Dhekiajuli Mustard Seed Procurement Centre in the presence of sub-divisional agriculture officer Jakir Hussain, Pranab Bora, senior agricultural development officer Indu Pranjal Bora, district media expert of agriculture Bitopan Saikia, in-charge secretary of the office of the Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board, Dhekiajuli Dwijen Das, manager of Tezpur Warehouse Jugal Saikia, and other department officials.
It is to be mentioned here that Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board and the Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited have been assigned to procure mustard seeds from the farmers in the district of Sonitpur at the minimum support price of Rs 5650 per quintal fixed by the government for the year 2024 at Dhekiajuli and Tezpur Warehouse, 18 Mile. The department urged the farmers not to be provoked by brokers and to sell their product directly only to the government-approved agencies at the fixed minimum support price of Rs 5650 per quintal.
Sonitpur district Agriculture Department has informed that for selling their produce at the minimum support price, farmers in Sonitpur district are required to obtain certificates from the local agricultural development officer or the Office of District Agriculture Department. The farmers should have to submit a farmer’s certificate, Aadhaar card, copy of bank passbook, and their mobile number to the concerned authority for execution of selling their product. The department also asked the farmers to pay attention to the fact that the moisture content of the mustard seeds they bring for sale should not exceed 8 percent.
