Gujarat farmers dispose Groundnut below MSP.

As the government delays procurement of Groundnut, farmers are selling Groundnut at an estimated average of Rs 3,500 per quintal in Saurashtra region of Gujarat at prices which are much below the minimum support price (MSP). About a month before poll dates were announced for Gujarat, the state government had announced it would procure Groundnut at Rs 4,500 per quintal and Rs 50 as bonus over and above the central minimum support price. Small and marginal farmers who need money immediately are preferring the open market because there are long waiting lists for sale to government, and the government also takes a couple of weeks for making payment.