MP govt seeks higher moong procurement target amid farmer protests in Bhopal

Bhopal, July 28 (AHN) The Madhya Pradesh government has formally urged the Centre to raise the state’s procurement target for summer moong under the Price Support Scheme, citing bumper production and growing farmer unrest.

In a letter addressed to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, State Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Aidal Singh Kansana requested that the procurement ceiling be increased to 8.06 lakh metric tonnes, representing 40 per cent of the state’s estimated output.

According to the minister, Madhya Pradesh has sown moong across 14.30 lakh hectares this season, with productivity pegged at 1,410 kilograms per hectare. The total production is expected to reach 20.16 lakh metric tonnes. While the Centre has approved procurement of 4.54 lakh metric tonnes, Kansana argued that this figure falls short of the needs of farmers, many of whom rely on minimum support price (MSP) purchases to secure fair returns.

He pointed out that last year, against a target of 4.19 lakh metric tonnes, the state successfully procured 7.72 lakh metric tonnes, underscoring both demand and capacity. The minister stressed that ensuring farmers receive MSP benefits is vital to sustaining interest in pulse cultivation.

He noted that as of now, 3.47 lakh farmers have registered for procurement, but only 82,000 have been able to sell their produce, reflecting bottlenecks in the system. Kansana urged the Centre to reallocate unused quotas from other states to Madhya Pradesh, where production has surged.

The appeal comes against the backdrop of mounting farmer protests in Bhopal. Hundreds of cultivators have gathered to move towards the Chief Minister’s residence, demanding higher procurement limits and immediate intervention to prevent distress sales. Farmers, who are camping on the Bhopal–Hoshangabad road, argue that without expanded procurement, they will be forced to sell moong at prices below MSP, leading to heavy losses despite record harvests.

The state government has assured farmers that it is pressing the Centre for relief. Kansana’s letter emphasised that increasing the procurement target would not only stabilise farmer incomes but also encourage continued pulse production, which is critical for food security.

The outcome of the Centre’s decision on procurement will be closely watched, as it carries significant implications for both rural livelihoods and political stability in Madhya Pradesh.