Vatakara: Kerala which obtained nod from the union government to continue procurement of copra (dried coconut kernels) at the Minimum Support Price is hit with another roadblock. The union government’s order allowing the deadline extension was issued 10 days ago, yet respective centres in the state have not yet begun the procurement. Also, the copra prices are declining day by day.
The issue is that the farmers should have agriculture department’s affidavit and should be registered to provide the copra to the respective procurement centres.
The deadline was extended for 52 days and only 42 days remain for the procurement.
Meanwhile, as per the union government’s earlier order, the state was supposed to procure 50,000 tonnes of copra within six months from February. But the agriculture department had to spare four and a half months due to the technical issues in confirming the procurement agencies. The actual procurement was carried out only in the last one and a half months.
The new development on further delay comes at this juncture. The farmers are urging the authorities concerned to make the registration process more swift.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) authorities maintained that registration process is ongoing and procurement will start soon.
