Madhya Pradesh hikes moong procurement cap to 60% as farmers protest

Published 29 July 2026 · politics

The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) increased the limit for moong procurement from 25% to 60% of the total crop, following a

The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) increased the limit for moong procurement from 25% to 60% of the total crop, following a meeting between State Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana and farmer representatives. The decision comes as nearly 2,000 farmers, who breached police barricades to reach the State capital, set up camp near Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s residence. “In districts like Narmadapuram, Sehore, and Harda, this will amount to around 3 quintals per acre. The decision will be implemented immediately, and efforts will be made to benefit the maximum number of farmers,” Mr. Kansana said. He added that the procurement slot booking deadline has been extended to August 10, while the procurement deadline has been moved from August 10 to August 20. Additionally, the State government has suspended the MSP e-token system for fertiliser distribution. “A high-level committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister’s Agricultural Production Commission will be formed to review the system and suggest necessary reforms,” the Minister added. However, Subodh Raikhere, a farmer representative, dismissed the move as an attempt to “pacify” the protest ahead of the Assembly by-election in Datia on Thursday (July 30, 2026). He stated that the farmers would continue to camp in Bhopal and decide on their next course of action tomorrow after consulting all 19 involved organisations. “This is a lollypop to end the movement because of the Datia election.

We stand by our demand of 100% procurement,” he told reporters. How events unfolded Earlier in the day, farmers, carrying bedding, cooking essentials, and other provisions anticipating an extended stay, breached police barricades on the Narmadapuram road and blockades at multiple points before entering the city. By evening, the protesters had reached Polytechnic Square, less than a kilometre from the Chief Minister’s residence, prompting authorities to block the route with buses and barricades. The farmers, representing at least 19 organisations, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), resumed their march on Wednesday (July 30, 2026) afternoon after a meeting between farmer leaders and the State Agriculture Minister proved futile. Farmers from Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Vidisha, and Raisen have been marching towards the capital since Monday (July 27, 2026) as part of the ‘Kisan Kranti Padyatra’ (farmer revolution footmarch). Procurement disparity The Union Government had earlier agreed to purchase 4.54 lakh metric tonnes of moong from Madhya Pradesh at a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹8,780 per quintal for the 2026-27 marketing season. This quota is significantly lower than the total estimated production of 20.16 lakh metric tonnes, capping government procurement at approximately 25%. The State has asked the Centre to increase the procurement limit to more than 8 lakh metric tonnes, with Mr. Kansana writing to Mr. Chouhan to that end. In response to Mr. Kansana’s letter, Mr. Chouhan on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) wrote to Chief Minister Yadav stating that, as per the scheme, the Union Government can only purchase up to 25% of the crop from the State and that any additional procurement from farmers is done by the States.