Soybean procurement period extended by 24 days in Maharashtra and 15 days in Telangana

New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has approved the extension of the procurement period for groundnut and soybean in multiple states. Additionally, the government has sanctioned 100% procurement of tur, masoor, and urad for the next four years. The Indian government has also extended the Integrated Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme under the 15th Finance Commission cycle until 2025-26. This initiative includes components such as the Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS), Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), and Price Stabilization Fund (PSF).

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that the PM-AASHA scheme aims to ensure remunerative prices for farmers while also maintaining affordable prices for consumers.

Soybean and Groundnut Procurement Under PSS

For the 2024-25 Kharif season, the government has approved soybean procurement under PSS in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Telangana. As of February 9, 2025, a total of 19.99 LMT (Lakh Metric Tonnes) of soybean has been procured, benefiting 846,251 farmers.

In Maharashtra, the procurement period has been extended by 24 days, while in Telangana, it has been extended by 15 days to allow more farmers to sell their produce. Similarly, the procurement of groundnut under PSS has been approved in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

For groundnut procurement, the period has been extended by 6 days in Gujarat and 25 days in Karnataka.

100% Procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor

To promote domestic pulse production and reduce import dependency, the central government has approved 100% procurement of tur, urad, and masoor under PSS for the 2024-25 procurement year.

Additionally, in the Union Budget 2025, the government announced that 100% procurement of these pulses will continue for the next four years through central nodal agencies. This initiative aims to increase domestic production, decrease reliance on imports, and make India self-sufficient in pulses.

Conclusion

The government’s decision to extend the procurement period and ensure 100% pulse procurement aligns with its long-term vision of agricultural self-sufficiency and farmer welfare. These measures will boost farmer incomes and strengthen India’s agricultural sector.