Moong Procurement Dispute: Centre Urges MP Government to Expedite Purchases Amid Farmers' Protest

The Madhya Pradesh government, already grappling with a significant farmers' protest over moong procurement, received a public pushback from the Centre on Wednesday. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in a detailed letter to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, defended the Centre's procurement policy and argued that the state's slow pace of procurement was the immediate challenge.

Chouhan's letter came a day after State Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana sought an increase in the quantity of moong that could be procured under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for the 2025-26 summer season. Farmers under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha have been agitating, demanding faster and higher procurement.

In his response, Chouhan stated that Madhya Pradesh had already received the largest allocation among all states. He wrote, 'For the 2025-26 summer season, procurement of up to 4,54,580 metric tonnes of moong has been approved for Madhya Pradesh under the PSS. This constitutes 87% of the total 5,23,243 metric tonnes approved across all states.'

He clarified that the Centre does not assign procurement targets to states; instead, approvals are granted under the PM-AASHA scheme, which allows procurement up to 25% of estimated production. 'The scheme clearly states that the Centre can undertake procurement only up to 25% of a state's production, while any procurement beyond this limit has to be carried out by the state government,' Chouhan wrote.

To bolster his argument, Chouhan highlighted a steady increase in procurement approvals over the years: from 2.75 lakh metric tonnes in 2021-22 to 4.54 lakh metric tonnes this year. He urged the state to expedite procurement, noting that as of July 29, Madhya Pradesh had procured only around 60,000 metric tonnes despite the larger approved quantity.

Meanwhile, the Mohan Yadav government stepped up efforts to end the agitation. State ministers held talks with a 15-member delegation of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha at the Mantralaya. Following the meeting, the state announced it would increase procurement from 25% to 60% of every eligible farmer's moong produce, which would amount to around three quintals per acre in affected districts. The move is seen as a major concession to address the farmers' demands.

The dispute highlights the ongoing tension between the state and central governments over agricultural policy implementation. While the Centre maintains that it has been generous in its support, the state argues that the approved quantities are insufficient to meet the actual harvest. Farmers continue their protest, demanding immediate relief and higher procurement at minimum support prices.