Madhya Pradesh Farmers March on Bhopal Over Moong Procurement Dispute

Nearly 2,000 farmers, carrying sacks of grain, rolled-up bedding, and cooking utensils, marched into the outskirts of Bhopal on Tuesday after breaking through police barricades. The protest, organized by 19 groups under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), has escalated a crop procurement dispute into a major political challenge for Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government.

The farmers demand that the government procure 100% of the state's moong (green gram) crop at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and address long-standing grievances over fertiliser distribution. They have vowed not to leave until their demands are met.

The march began in Narmadapuram, where farmers first assembled at Sethani Ghat. Authorities initially blocked the procession, prompting a sit-in. As tensions mounted, barricades were removed, allowing the march to continue. On Tuesday, the convoy advanced through Obaidullaganj and Raisen district, facing multiple police barricades at toll plazas and the Mandideep border. Officials urged farmer leaders to submit a memorandum instead of entering Bhopal.

At the core of the dispute is the MSP procurement policy. While the central government has announced 100% MSP procurement for tur, urad, and masur, moong procurement is governed by the Price Support Scheme, which caps procurement at 25% of a state's estimated production. Farmers argue this forces them to sell the remainder in the open market at prices significantly below the MSP of ₹8,768 per quintal for the 2026-27 season.

Farmer leader Santosh Patwari stated, “We have been mobilising for over 20 days. We had no option but to protest after the government did not respond to multiple representations. Farmers are unable to get a profitable rate for moong, and we have no option but to go to the CM’s residence.”

The protest reflects wider rural discontent in Madhya Pradesh. Farmers' organisations cite procurement delays, quantity caps, registration problems, and recurring fertiliser shortages over successive crop seasons. Rising cultivation costs and uncertain market prices have forced many growers into distress sales despite good production.

This agitation presents another political challenge for the Mohan Yadav government, which recently diluted its proposed land-pooling policy for the 2028 Simhastha after similar protests in Ujjain. Farmers have also accused the administration of blocking roads to prevent supporters from reaching Bhopal in districts like Raisen, Vidisha, Harda, Narmadapuram, and Budhni.

The administration denies suppressing the protest, stating that police deployment aims to maintain law and order. Additional SP (Hoshangabad) Anil Sharma said, “The last point of the protest will be maintained at Hoshangabad, and we are constantly talking to the farmers to address their demands peacefully. All facilities are available, and we have adequate force to manage the situation.”