India, Sept. 23 -- The Government of India issued the following news release:
Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has approved the procurement of major pulses and oilseeds in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat for the Kharif 2025-26 season. Shri Chouhan has given approval for the 100% procurement of urad (black lentils) and tur (pigeon pea) from farmers, while also approving the purchase of moong (green gram), sesame, and groundnut in Uttar Pradesh, and soybean, moong, and groundnut in Gujarat. He directed the two states to conduct the entire procurement process in a transparent manner to protect the interests of farmers, adding that procurement worth rs 13,890.60 crore in both states would benefit them directly.
A virtual meeting, chaired by Shri Chouhan today, was attended by Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Shri Surya Pratap Shahi and Gujarat Agriculture Minister Shri Raghavji Patel. Union Agriculture Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, along with senior agriculture officials of the Centre and both state governments, also joined the meeting. Shri Chouhan emphasised that the procurement process must be transparent, digital, and smooth. The agriculture ministers of both states assured that procurement would be carried out through digital portals with biometric authentication and POS machine systems.
After discussions on Uttar Pradesh's proposal, Shri Chouhan approved the procurement of 2,27,860 metric tonnes (100%) of urad worth rs 1,777.30 crore. He also approved the 100% procurement of 1,13,780 metric tonnes of tur, valued at rs 910.24 crore. In addition, procurement of 1,983 metric tonnes of moong, worth rs 17.38 crore, was approved. The Minister also sanctioned procurement of 30,410 metric tonnes of sesame worth rs 299.42 crore, and 99,438 metric tonnes of groundnut worth rs 722.22 crore.
For Gujarat, Shri Chouhan approved the procurement of 47,780 metric tonnes of urad, valued at rs 372.68 crore, along with 1,09,905 metric tonnes of soybean worth rs 585.57 crore. He also approved the procurement of 12,62,163 metric tonnes of groundnut worth rs 9,167.08 crore, and 4,415 metric tonnes of moong, valued at rs38.71 crore.
The Union Agriculture Minister stressed that complete transparency must be ensured in the procurement process so that no irregularities occur. He directed that only genuine farmers should benefit and middlemen must not take advantage. It was informed that before the commencement of procurement at all centres, Aadhaar-based biometric or facial authentication and POS machines would be deployed - about 350 in Uttar Pradesh and around 400 in Gujarat. Letters have been sent to National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) for pre-registration of farmers, ensuring that only registered farmers can sell their crops at MSP (minimum support price). The entire procurement process will be carried out digitally through the e-Samriddhi and e-Samyukti portals, enabling direct payment into farmers' bank accounts.
Shri Chouhan further said that the approved quantities may be revised, if required, after the first advance estimates of Kharif 2025-26 are released, so that farmers derive maximum benefit. He underlined that the digital and transparent system will guarantee every eligible farmer the right to sell crops at the government-notified price and receive timely payments directly into their bank accounts.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
