Protests have intensified in Madhya Pradesh as farmers demand a raise in the government's procurement price of soybean to ₹6,000 per quintal. Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), announced a "Tractor Tiranga March" on September 23 in Seoni Malwa, citing the unfair prices that farmers are receiving for their soybean crops. Additionally, 30 farmer organizations under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Madhya Pradesh, have called for a statewide "chakka jam" (road blockade) on October 1.
Tikait pointed out that soybean farmers are currently forced to sell their crops at ₹3,500 to ₹4,000 per quintal, while the government’s minimum support price (MSP) is set at ₹4,892 per quintal- an amount insufficient to cover farmers' production costs. Farmers are demanding a higher price, and he will participate in the tractor march on September 23 to support this cause.
He also clarified that while some farmer groups have announced the chakka jam for October 1, the national-level Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) is not officially involved. According to Tikait, various organizations are protesting independently, with some political figures attempting to exploit the movement for their own gain. He urged those with political motivations to separate their protests from the farmers' cause, stressing that the SKM remains focused on advocating for the farmers’ rights. Tikait called on the government to act urgently on the issue of low soybean prices.