Moong farmers of Madhya Pradesh to struggle as selling produce at MSP becomes difficult
Farmers across the state have taken to the streets, protesting the incomplete procurement of their moong crop despite a significant harvest this year. The process has been under scrutiny since its inception.
The procurement of moong at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in Madhya Pradesh is once again embroiled in controversy, stirring unrest from local roads to the Parliament. Farmers across the state have taken to the streets, protesting the incomplete procurement of their moong crop despite a significant harvest this year. The process has been under scrutiny since its inception.
In response to farmer protests, the state government recently extended the procurement deadline for summer moong and allowed a single day for slot booking on August 1st. However, technical glitches plagued the booking software, leaving many farmers unable to secure a slot. Consequently, those unable to book will now be forced to sell their produce at market prices ranging from Rs 6500 to Rs 8000 per quintal, significantly below the MSP of Rs 8558 per quintal, resulting in direct losses of up to Rs 2000 per quintal.
Kedar Shankar Sirohi, President of the Farmers Cell of Madhya Pradesh Congress, highlighted that the slot booking portal functioned for only 2 to 3 hours on August 1st, preventing thousands of farmers from booking their slots. He emphasized that this shortfall will force farmers to sell their produce at a loss, as market prices remain lower than the MSP.
Sirohi also alleged irregularities in the procurement process, claiming that farmers are being charged Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per trolley at some centers. Additionally, farmers are reportedly being exploited by being required to weigh extra moong due to claims of poor quality.
Since the beginning of the procurement season, farmers have faced numerous challenges. Initial limits on the amount of moong that could be sold per hectare and per day sparked discontent, leading to protests. Although the government extended the procurement deadline to August 5th, software issues continued to hinder slot bookings, leaving many farmers unable to sell their crop. The Congress party asserts that thousands of farmers are still unable to sell their moong.
Despite Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's assurances that the government would procure 100% of tur, urad, and lentils from farmers, moong farmers in Madhya Pradesh remain concerned. The state's push for increased pulse production appears to be undermined by these procurement challenges.
In Parliament, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Ram Nath Thakur presented data indicating a 90% increase in pulse imports for the 2023-24 fiscal year. This situation raises questions about the government's goal of self-sufficiency in pulse production, particularly if domestic procurement issues persist.
