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Centre Approves Rs 4,886 Crore Package for Sunflower, Gram MSP to Aid Farmers

The Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved a Rs 4,886.46 crore package to procure sunflower and gram at minimum support price (MSP). This includes procuring 9,023 metric tonnes of sunflower in Karnataka and increasing gram procurement limits in Maharashtra. The government also extended the gram procurement period in Maharashtra by 30 days until May 29. These measures aim to protect farmers from distress sales and ensure fair prices for their produce.

Key Points: Rs 4,886 Crore MSP Package for Sunflower, Gram Farmers

  • Centre approves Rs 4,886.46 crore MSP package for sunflower and gram
  • Karnataka gets nod for 9,023 metric tonnes of sunflower at MSP worth Rs 69.66 crore
  • Maharashtra's gram procurement limit increased to 8,19,882 metric tonnes
  • Procurement period for gram in Maharashtra extended by 30 days until May 29
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Centre okays Rs 4,886 crore package to buy sunflower, gram at MSP to help farmers

Centre okays Rs 4,886 crore to buy sunflower and gram at MSP, benefiting farmers in Karnataka and Maharashtra, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

"The decisions taken by the Centre are aimed at protecting farmers from distress sales and ensuring that they receive fair value for their produce. - Official Statement"

New Delhi, May 5

Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has approved an additional outlay of Rs 4,886.46 crore to buy sunflower and more gram at the minimum support price to benefit farmers in Karnataka and Maharashtra, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

Approving a proposal from the Karnataka government, Chouhan sanctioned the procurement of 9,023 metric tonnes of sunflower under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for the Rabi 2026 season. The total MSP value of this approval exceeds Rs 69.66 crore. The decision is expected to ensure that sunflower farmers in Karnataka receive fair and remunerative prices for their produce, the statement said.

The move is particularly significant for farmers who often face the compulsion to sell their produce at lower prices due to unfavourable market conditions. With MSP procurement now approved, farmers will be better protected from distress sales. The decision is also expected to strengthen farmers' confidence and contribute to greater stability in the agricultural sector.

In another major decision, the Union Minister approved a proposal from the Maharashtra government to increase the maximum procurement quantity of gram under the PSS to 8,19,882 metric tonnes for the Rabi 2025-26 season. The total MSP value of this decision exceeds Rs 4,816.80 crore, the statement said.

The government has also extended the procurement period for gram in Maharashtra by 30 days, allowing purchases to continue until May 29. This extension is expected to benefit farmers who were unable to sell their produce within the earlier deadline. It will enable a larger number of farmers to avail MSP benefits and avoid selling their produce at lower prices due to market pressure.

The decisions taken by the Centre are aimed at protecting farmers from distress sales and ensuring that they receive fair value for their produce. By expanding procurement operations and extending timelines, the government seeks to create a more secure and predictable environment for agricultural producers, the statement said.

Such measures are expected to not only provide direct financial relief to farmers but also reinforce their confidence in the procurement system. The increased procurement limits and timelines will help ensure that farmers are not forced into disadvantageous market transactions, the statement observed.

These steps are aimed at strengthening the agricultural economy by ensuring price assurance and reducing vulnerability to market fluctuations. The Central government has maintained that ensuring remunerative prices for farmers remains a key priority. By expanding MSP operations and providing timely support, it aims to enhance income stability for farmers and promote long-term sustainability in the agricultural sector. These decisions are expected to not only benefit farmers in Karnataka and Maharashtra directly but also contribute to a broader sense of trust and stability in the agricultural ecosystem, the statement added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

V
Vikram M
Good move but question is implementation. I'm from Maharashtra and our gram farmers have been struggling with surplus production. Extending procurement till May 29 is helpful but we need more godowns and better logistics. Paper announcements are fine, ground reality matters more.
P
Priya S
As someone from a farming family in Karnataka, I appreciate this step. But let's not forget - MSP alone isn't enough. We need assured irrigation, better market linkages, and crop insurance that actually pays out. Still, ₹4,886 crore is substantial. Let's see if it reaches the actual tillers or gets stuck in bureaucratic layers.
A
Arjun K
Chai pe charcha time! ☕ 8 lakh metric tonnes of gram at MSP is huge. But why only Karnataka and Maharashtra? Our Punjab farmers also need support for gram and other pulses. Central government should expand this to all states. Partial coverage creates regional imbalance. Still, achha kadam hai for those it covers.
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Nikhil C
Honestly, while this is welcome, I worry about inflation. When government buys such huge quantities at MSP, it reduces market supply, pushing up edible oil and dal prices for common man. ₹4,886 crore is taxpayer money. Need to balance farmer welfare with consumer interests. Just saying...
M
Manish T
Great initiative! My uncle in Solapur, Maharashtra, grows gram and was worried about unsold stock. This extension till May 29 is a blessing for him. But I wish the government would also focus on creating processing units in rural areas - that would create jobs and reduce post-harvest losses. Double benefit!

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