U.P. govt eases norms to help farmers sell rain-hit wheat at MSP

The move comes following the Centre allowing relaxations after its teams recently conducted field surveys to assess the wheat loss due to rain and hailstorms in several districts in Uttar Pradesh since mid-March

The Uttar Pradesh government has relaxed norms regarding wheat quality during the current market season to make it possible for farmers to sell their wheat damaged by unseasonal rain to the government on the minimum support price (MSP) without any deduction provided the damage is not beyond the fixed limit, a government spokesman said here on Friday.

Unseasonal rain and hailstorms damaged standing wheat crops in many districts of U.P. last month. (HT file photo)

The move comes following the Centre allowing relaxations after its teams recently conducted field surveys to assess the wheat loss due to rain and hailstorms in several districts in Uttar Pradesh since mid-March.

“The wheat that has suffered lustre loss up to 80% and the wheat that has shrivelled and broken to the extent of 18% due to untimely rain and hailstorms will also be purchased from farmers at the MSP without any deduction,” the spokesman said.

The government agencies are purchasing wheat direct from farmers through 5,674 procurement centres set up across the state at the MSP of ₹2125 per quintal. The procurement will continue till the middle of June.