The North News
New Delhi, March 27
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged all state governments to ensure that no crop is purchased below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Speaking on Thursday, he reiterated the government’s commitment to benefiting farmers and achieving self-sufficiency in pulses.
Chouhan announced that the Centre has approved the procurement of tur, urad, and lentils under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) at 100% of state production for 2024-25. This initiative, he said, will continue until 2028-29 to reduce import dependency.
He informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has also announced in Budget 2025 that 100 percent of the state’s production of Tur (Arhar), Urad and Masoor will be procured for the next four years till 2028-29 to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses in the country. The procurement of Tur (Arhar) has been approved in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme during the Kharif 2024-25 season. Besides it, in the interest of farmers, Karnataka has also approved extending the procurement period from 90 days by 30 days to May 1.
Agriculture Minister Chouhan informed that procurement is continuing at MSP through NAFED and NCCF in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana and till 25 March 2025, a total of 2.46 lakh metric tonnes of Tur (Arhar) has been procured in these states, benefiting 1,71,569 farmers of these states. He said that the price of tur in Uttar Pradesh is currently running above MSP.
Union Agriculture Minister informed that the government of India is committed to procure 100 percent Tur from farmers through Central Nodal Agencies. Similarly, procurement of gram, mustard and lentil has been approved during RMS 2025. PM-Asha Yojana has been extended till 2025-26. Under this, the purchase of pulses and oilseeds from farmers at MSP will continue. The total approved quantity of gram for RMS 2025 is 27.99 lakh metric tonnes and mustard is 28.28 lakh metric tonnes. The major states include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The total approved quantity of lentil is 9.40 lakh metric tonnes procurement of copra (milling and ball) has also been approved in Tamil Nadu. The government has ensured farmers use NAFED and NCCF portals to simplify registration and process. Minister Chouhan said that on behalf of the Central Government, I appeal to all the state governments to ensure that there is no purchase below MSP. Our aim is to benefit the farmers and we will leave no stone unturned to fulfill this noble objective.
