Port Blair, July 17: The Chairman, Andaman & Nicobar Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (ANCOFED) Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma has written a letter to Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Shri Sharad Pawar stating that a letter received from the Director (Coop) New Delhi revealed that the procurement of copra from the farmers under Price Support Scheme (PSS)  shall be restricted to 90 days only in a calendar year whereas the process of production of copra is undertaken by the farmers including tribal growers throughout the year in these islands.

Sharma stated that such procurement under PSS had started in these islands since the year 2000 and in every occasion till 2012 the procurement operation continued for a calendar year and even some time extensions were given beyond the time limit considering the plight of the farmers and remoteness of the area.

The Chairman further briefed that as per the present arrangement made by the Govt of India, if the procurement of copra is restricted to 90 days in a calendar year the community who are solely engaged in copra production for their livelihood will be affected badly. Sharma has therefore made a request that the copra procurement be allowed under PSS throughout the year in the larger interest of the farming community, particularly the tribal growers.