To further boost rural income and provide an alternative revenue source to the farmers, the Uttar Pradesh government has started the procurement of maize.
The state has for the first time launched direct Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement of maize during the current rabi season, offering Rs 2,225 per quintal for the cash crop.
The drive began on June 15 and will run till July 31 across designated centres spread over 22 districts, thus benefiting scores of maize growers in UP.
The procurement will take place in Badaun, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Etah, Kasganj, Firozabad, Hathras, Mainpuri, Hardoi, Unnao, Kanpur Nagar, Auraiya, Kannauj, Etawah, Farrukhabad, Bahraich, Ballia, Gonda, Sambhal, Rampur, Ayodhya and Mirzapur districts.
However, registration is mandatory, and farmers must register on the portal fcs.up.gov.in or via the ‘UP KISAN MITRA’ mobile app.
The farmers’ bank account must be Aadhaar-linked and mapped/activated on the NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) portal, an official said.
The payments will be made directly to the farmers’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through the Public Finance Management System (PFMS).