Maharashtra government has decided to give additional financial incentives of Rs 200 per quintal than the minimum support price sanctioned by the Centre for paddy for 2016-17 sowing season.
"The decision will provide big relief to paddy growers who are burdened by cost of production," state Agriculture Minister Pandurang Phundkar said.
He said the Centre has sanctioned a support price of Rs 1,470 per quintal for average quality paddy and Rs 1,510 per quintal for A Grade paddy for 2016-17 season.
"The Central government has decided not to provide additional price, but paddy growers were facing financial burden on account of increase in the cost of paddy production. The state government came to the rescue of paddy growers and decided to give additional incentives of Rs 200 per quintal," he added.
Phundkar said the additional incentives will be available to a limit of 50 quintal paddy per farmer and will be disbursed to them through crossed cheques.
"The incentives will be given against paddy purchased during the period from October 24, 2016 to March 31, 2017. Necessary sanctions are accorded for the supplementary expenditure of Rs 66 crore for this purpose," Phundkar said.
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