The Indian government has announced its approval for procuring key pulses and oilseeds, including moong (green gram), urad (black gram), tur (red gram), and soybeans, at their Minimum Support Prices (MSPs). This initiative covers farmers in Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, with an estimated expenditure exceeding ₹15,000 crore. The goal is to ensure farmers receive fair returns for their produce and are protected from market price volatility.
In a significant move, most of these crops will be physically procured in Telangana, Odisha, and Maharashtra. However, Madhya Pradesh will implement a different approach under the Price Difference Payment Scheme (PDPS), a part of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA). Under PDPS, farmers in Madhya Pradesh will receive the difference between the MSP and the government-determined market price directly into their bank accounts. This includes a notable ₹800/quintal payment for soybean farmers in Madhya Pradesh.
The state of Madhya Pradesh aims to cover 22,21,632 tonnes of soybeans, with a financial outlay of ₹1,775.53 crore for this purpose. While the average market price for soybeans in the Mandi (agricultural market yard) during the period of October 1-27 was ₹3,905/quintal, it stood at ₹4,056/quintal by October 27. This is still about 27% lower than the MSP of ₹5,328/quintal.
Farmer leaders in Madhya Pradesh have expressed concerns, suggesting the sanctioned amount might not be sufficient. Kedar Sirohi, a farmer leader, commented that the current average market price is about ₹1,300 less than the MSP, and a higher allocation would prevent farmers from feeling disappointed.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has approved these procurement plans for the 2025-26 Kharif season. The total estimated cost for the procurement across all states is ₹15,095.83 crore. This financial support is expected to significantly benefit farmers and contribute to India’s self-reliance in agriculture.
Specific procurement plans include:
* **Telangana:** 4,430 tonnes of moong, valued at ₹38.44 crore at MSP.
* **Odisha:** 18,470 tonnes of tur, with procurement plans cleared worth ₹147.76 crore.
* **Maharashtra:** 33,000 tonnes of moong (₹289.34 crore), 3,25,680 tonnes of urad (₹2540.30 crore), and 18,50,700 tonnes of soybean (₹9,860.53 crore).
These decisions aim to bolster farmer incomes and provide stability against market fluctuations. However, reports indicate that procurement for some of these crops had not yet started in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka as of the previous week. Official data from October 27 shows weighted average mandi prices for various crops significantly below their MSPs: moong at ₹6,721/quintal (23% below MSP), urad at ₹6,580/quintal (16% below MSP), tur at ₹6,601/quintal (17% below MSP), soybean at ₹4,038/quintal (24% below MSP), and groundnut at ₹5,291/quintal (27% below MSP). This initiative is a crucial step towards ensuring agricultural prosperity.