In a major boost for farmers, the Central Government has greenlit the procurement of 3.37 lakh metric tons of toor (pigeon pea) under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) in Maharashtra. This decision, valued at approximately Rs 2,696 crore at Minimum Support Price (MSP), was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Sunday.
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi where he approved the procurement. The move comes as toor prices have dipped below MSP levels, triggering the PSS mechanism designed to protect growers from market volatility.
During the discussions, Chouhan held detailed talks with Maharashtra’s Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal on procurement logistics. He issued clear directives to NAFED, NCCF, and state officials to ensure seamless execution. Emphasizing the government’s unwavering commitment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Chouhan noted the significant financial outlay but stressed that farmer welfare remains paramount.
‘This procurement will shoulder a heavy financial burden on the Centre, yet we stand firmly with our farmers,’ Chouhan stated. He underscored the need for direct purchases from farmers to sideline middlemen and ensure benefits reach the actual producers.
Chouhan directed NAFED and NCCF to coordinate closely with the state government, leveraging modern technology for transparent farmer registration and procurement processes. Officials were instructed to ramp up procurement centers if needed, preventing any inconvenience to farmers and maintaining utmost transparency.
The meeting saw participation from Maharashtra Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal, Union Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, and other senior officials. This initiative is poised to stabilize toor prices and provide much-needed relief to Maharashtra’s farming community amid challenging market conditions.