Public Distribution System - Selling of Minor Millets through Fair Price Shops run by Cooperatives / Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation in Chennai and Coimbatore Cities - Orders Issued

Public Distribution System - Selling of Minor Millets through Fair Price Shops run by Cooperatives / Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation in Chennai and Coimbatore Cities - Orders Issued

Read:

1. Announcement made by the Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture and Famers Welfare in Agriculture Budget 2021-2022.

2. From the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Letter Rc.No.50414/ 2021/PDSM1, dated 13.09.2021.

3. From the Director, Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business, Chennai-32 Letter No.TNSFAC/874/2021, dated 30.11.2021.

ORDER:-

In Agriculture Budget 2021-2022, the Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture and Famers Welfare has made the following announcement:-

"Action will be taken to encourage value addition in minor millets and ensure remunerative price to farmers. Minor Millet rice will be procured by Co-operative Societies and distributed through Public Distribution System in Cities like Chennai and Coimbatore."

2. In his letter second read above, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies has sent proposals for selling Minor Millets through the select Fair Price Shops run by Cooperatives in Chennai and Coimbatore cities alongwith other Public Distribution System commodities, on pilot basis.

3. In this regard, a meeting was convened on 08.10.2021 to discuss on the procurement of Minor Millets, processing and value addition of the Minor Millets by the Farmers Producers Organization based on the requirement of Cooperative Department. 4. In his letter third read above, the Director of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business has suggested certain modalities for procurement and selling of Minor Millets through Fair Price Shops. He has suggested that, a Committee may be organized with representative from Co-operative Department, Agriculture Department, Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business, Farmer Producer Organization, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Department of Economics and Statistics at State Level for framing modalities to fix the price for Minor Millets.

5. In the circumstances stated above, the Government after careful examination, grant permission for the sale of Minor Millets in select Fair Price Shops / Retail outlets run by Cooperatives / Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation in Chennai and Coimbatore Cities. alongwith other Public Distribution System commodities, on pilot basis.

6. Government constitute a State Level Committee, with the following members for framing modalities for processing and value addition of minor millets, pricing, etc.:- Designation