Delayed Soybean Procurement in Maharashtra Fuels Farmers' Anger, Sparking Political Tensions Ahead of Elections

The delayed procurement of soybeans by the Maharashtra government has sparked growing frustration among farmers, who are now forced to sell their crops well below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Although the central government approved soybean procurement under the Price Support Scheme in September, operations have yet to begin, leaving farmers in local mandis with prices significantly below the MSP of Rs 4,892 per quintal. Currently, farmers are receiving between Rs 3,800 and Rs 4,000 per quintal, leading to substantial financial losses.

Having completed the soybean harvest over 15 days ago, farmers had anticipated timely intervention from the government. With procurement still pending, they are left with no alternative but to sell to private traders at undervalued rates. The resulting economic strain is particularly intense in major soybean-growing regions like Marathwada and Western Vidarbha, where anger among farmers is growing. This delay not only deepens their financial struggles but is quickly becoming a sensitive political issue, potentially impacting the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

As India’s second-largest soybean producer, Maharashtra has extensive soybean cultivation across regions like Marathwada and Western Vidarbha. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare's first advance estimate for Kharif crop production in 2024-25 projects soybean production across the country to reach 133.60 lakh tonnes. Additionally, the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) forecasts a record 50.16 lakh tonnes for Maharashtra alone in the 2024 Kharif season, highlighting the critical need for efficient government intervention to stabilize prices and support farmers.

Local farmer Gajanan Lande from Buldhana district shared with Rural Voice that he recently harvested 10 quintals of soybean from his two-acre land but has chosen to withhold his crop from sale due to unsatisfactory mandi prices. Lande remains hopeful that government procurement will soon commence, as selling to private buyers at current rates would likely result in a loss.

Anil Ghanwat, a prominent farmer leader and member of the Supreme Court committee on MSP, expressed that the delay in government procurement has angered farmers. Ghanwat emphasised that current market prices are far below farmers’ production costs, resulting in substantial financial strain.

Raju Shetti, head of the Maharashtra-based farmers’ organisation Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and former Member of Parliament, highlighted the struggle of soybean farmers in the state. "While soybean once fetched Rs 9,000 per quintal, farmers are now forced to sell at a mere Rs 4,000," he told Rural Voice.

Shetti attributed this drastic price drop to government policies enabling large-scale palm oil imports and reduced import duties, which have depressed soybean prices. He urged the government to reassess these policies to secure better returns for farmers, cautioning that further delays in procurement may lead to political repercussions for the ruling alliance if immediate action is not taken.