Bengaluru: The high court has directed the state govt to ensure adequate procurement centres for farm produce across the state. A division bench of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind issued the instruction while disposing of a PIL from Rait Sena Karnataka, Navalgund, Dharwad district. The organisation filed the petition requesting the govt to operate procurement centres throughout the year, enabling farmers to sell their produce at minimum support prices (MSPs).The division bench noted that the quantity and operational duration of procurement centres would be contingent on various geographical and logistical considerations. The procurement operation involves substantial administrative and financial aspects, with centres acquiring foodgrains for distribution through govt welfare schemes. The bench emphasised that adequate storage infrastructure for procured grains is essential and stated that decisions on the centres’ quantity and operational duration fall under executive jurisdiction and policy matters.The division bench said, “The deputy commissioner of the district shall ensure that a scientific study is undertaken to assess the nature of crops cultivated and the estimated quantity of foodgrains likely to be brought by farmers to the procurement centres, prior to determining the number and location of such centres. Upon commencement of procurement at MSPs, if the existing procurement centres are found to be insufficient, the deputy commissioner shall ensure that adequate additional procurement centres are established and made operational within the procurement period to meet the demand.“In light of the fact that crop harvesting now extends beyond the traditional harvesting seasons, and to ensure that farmers are adequately remunerated through the MSP mechanism and are not compelled to resort to distress sales through middlemen, the govt should establish at least one procurement centre in each taluk for a period of two months beyond the procurement period fixed by the Union govt. Depending on geographical conditions and the quantity of foodgrains produced in a particular region, the state govt shall have the discretion to keep procurement centres open beyond the period prescribed, as may be necessary, to ensure that the objectives of the MSP scheme are effectively achieved, the bench observed.