The union government might soon give a nod to West Bengal government's demand for higher minimum support price for raw jute, said Mr Arup Roy, Minister of agriculture marketing, West Bengal.

The minimum support price of TD-5 variety of jute ex-Assam is Rs 1,675 a quintal while the minimum price ex-Kolkata is Rs 1,738 a quintal. West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee had requested for a bonus of Rs 400 a quintal for the current jute season in her meeting with the National Development Council in Delhi recently.

“The cost of production of jute at Rs 1,950 a quintal is much higher in comparison to the minimum price announced. So we have asked for a bonus of Rs 400 a quintal. The union government has assured our chief minister that they will favourably consider the issue,” Mr Roy told newspersons on the sidelines of the 3{+r}{+d} Agro Protech seminar organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in association with Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Food Processing Industries here on Thursday.

Proper marketing of the agriculture produce is critical for the development of the sector in the State, Mr Roy said. The State government plans to introduce a 3-tier marketing facility within the State, with the primary tier catering to the rural mass. Poor connectivity, lack of warehousing facility, prevalence of middlemen are some of the major challenges facing the sector, he said and added, “Investment in packaging facilities, transport and infrastructure including food parks and agri-export zones, advertising and promotion should be given priority.”

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