NEW DELHI, 24 June 2025: In a key step to safeguard farmer incomes amid market volatility, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday approved the procurement of moong and urad in Madhya Pradesh, and urad in Uttar Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme (PSS). The decision follows proposals from state governments and aims to ensure fair prices for farmers producing summer pulses.
The announcement was made during a high-level virtual meeting chaired by Chouhan, attended by Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Union Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, and senior officials from NAFED, NCCF, and state procurement agencies.
Highlighting the Centre’s resolve, Chouhan acknowledged the fiscal strain such procurement puts on the government but reaffirmed the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to directly benefit farmers. “We are ready to take on the financial burden, but farmers must receive the support they deserve,” the minister said.
He emphasized direct procurement from farmers to eliminate middlemen and ensure transparency. “Only a transparent procurement process can truly benefit farmers,” Shri Chouhan stressed, while instructing officials to use robust digital registration systems and expand procurement centers where necessary to improve access.
The Union Minister also expressed concern over storage irregularities reported in past procurement drives and urged officials to implement strong corrective measures. “Efforts must be made to prevent irregularities in storage,” he said, adding that monitoring mechanisms must be strengthened.
Chouhan directed procurement agencies to work towards efficiency and speed in execution, with clear communication to farmers on pricing, weighing, and payment timelines. He also assured the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister of full central support in implementing the urad procurement plan effectively.
With India’s pulse production rising steadily, ensuring fair market access and minimum support price (MSP) protection remains a central focus for the government. The decision to procure moong and urad is expected to stabilize prices, curb distress sales, and support rural livelihoods in key pulse-producing belts of central and northern India.
The move has been welcomed by farmers’ associations, who have been urging timely interventions amid concerns over falling pulse prices and limited market access in recent weeks. With this approval, procurement operations are expected to commence shortly, offering relief to thousands of growers ahead of the upcoming Kharif season.
