The Centre has approved a series of procurement measures across key crops and states, aiming to shield farmers from price distress and ensure remunerative returns. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan cleared the procurement of 20 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes in Uttar Pradesh, enhanced the chana procurement ceiling in Andhra Pradesh, and extended the tur procurement window in Karnataka.
The decisions were taken following consultations with state governments and are aligned with the Centre’s broader push to stabilise agricultural markets.
In Uttar Pradesh, potato procurement of 20 lakh metric tonnes has been approved under the Market Intervention Scheme for the 2025-26 season, with a fixed intervention price of Rs 6,500.9 per metric tonne. The Centre’s financial outlay for the initiative is estimated at Rs 203.15 crore. The move is expected to prevent distress sales and ensure stable returns for farmers amid volatile market conditions.
For Andhra Pradesh, the government has raised the procurement limit for chana (Bengal gram) under the Price Support Scheme from 94,500 metric tonnes to 1,13,250 metric tonnes for the Rabi Marketing Season 2025-26. The increase comes in response to the state’s request and is aimed at supporting farmers by guaranteeing procurement at assured prices.
In Karnataka, the Centre has extended the procurement period for tur (arhar) by 30 days, allowing farmers to sell their produce at the Minimum Support Price until May 15, 2026. The extension is expected to provide additional time for farmers to access MSP operations and avoid selling at lower market rates.
The Centre said the decisions reflect its commitment under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protect farmers’ interests and ensure they are not forced into distress sales. The measures, officials said, will help strengthen price stability and provide greater income security to farmers across the three states.
