Karnataka govt. urged to procure commodities for newly-announced nutrition kit directly from farmers

Various organisations, including farmers’ outfits and NGOs have welcomed the Karnataka Cabinet’s recent decision to replace five kg of additional rice under the Anna Bhagya scheme with a nutrition kit, but have urged the government to source the commodities directly from the farmers.

Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Tuesday, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leader Badagalapura Nagendra said that the government should procure the food products promised as part of the ‘Indira nutrition kit’ like tur dal and green gram directly from the farmers, by paying them Minimum Support Price (MSP) instead of purchasing the same from private agencies through a tender process.

It may be mentioned here that the State Cabinet, at its last meeting on October 9, had decided to replace five kg of additional rice with one kg each of tur dal and green gram, besides a kg each of sugar, salt, and cooking oil.

Kavitha Kuruganti, who represents Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), also known as Raitha Swaraj Vedike, recalled that they, along with KRRS, Jagruthi Karnataka, and Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch in September 2023 had submitted a proposal to Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayasway to provide such a nutrition basket instead of paying ₹170 per month per person when rice stocks were not available for distribution under the Anna Bhagya scheme.

Ms. Kuruganti told The Hindu over phone that the government’s move to replace the additional five kg of rice with a nutrition basket also provides an opportunity for rural prosperity, if the commodities were procured from grassroots institutions like primary agricultural co-operative credit societies, farmer producer organisations, and women self-help groups by announcing MSP for the products.

“The government can use their infrastructure for storage. The procurement as well distribution can be localised,” said Ms Kuruganti. “What is the purpose of buying cheap palmolein oil imported from Malaysia when cooking oil can be purchased locally?”, she asked.

Mr. Nagendra pointed out that while cooking oil can be procured through local oil-processing units, tur dal and green gram can be procured from local pulse-processing units and other farmer producer organisations. “These institutions will gain additional income opportunities, which will in turn boost rural economic activities,” he said.

The local procurement and distribution model for pulses, oilseeds, and millets for public distribution system will create vast opportunities for employment and rural enterprises, he said.

As part of the local procurement model, Ms. Kuruganti urged the government to announce MSP for about eight products, including tur dal, green gram, jowar, ragi, paddy, etc.