PANAJI
There is good news for Goa's paddy growers. The Agriculture department has announced an increase of Rs 2 per kilo in support price for paddy over and above the minimum support price (MSP) finalised by the Centre.
To incorporate the additional Rs 2 per kilogram, the Department of Agriculture has amended the State sector scheme -- Assured Price for Agriculture Produce -- to introduce a clause which says the assured price for paddy will now be set at ₹2 above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the Central Government at the beginning of each cropping season.
Under the scheme, paddy farmers will be entitled to get the assured price for up to 15,000 kilograms of paddy per season at a 5,000 kgs per hectare norm.
However, farmers will have to sell to the authorized procurement agencies a minimum of 100 kilograms, the notification adds.
The department said the increase in assured price for paddy has been made because of the relatively higher labour costs in Goa.
Some 23,000-odd hectares come under paddy cultivation during the kharif (monsoon) season across Goa, with net production crossing the one-lakh tonnes' mark.
Since 2021, the area covered by paddy cultivation and yields have steadily increased with officials attributing it to the push for mechanisation of operations.
Last year, however, was the odd one out as net production fell to 77,769 tonnes, significantly lower than the 1.1 lakh tonnes produced in 2023-24 kharif season blamed on extreme weather and flooding of fields.
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