In a major step toward strengthening income security for farmers, Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has approved key proposals submitted by Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for the Kharif 2025–26 season. The total value of these approved proposals exceeds ₹9,700 crore, ensuring substantial direct benefits to farmers across both states.
The decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to safeguard farmers from market risks and guarantee them the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The approvals were granted during a high-level virtual meeting with ministers and senior officials from both states.
Major Relief for Farmers in Andhra Pradesh
Under the approved proposals, Andhra Pradesh has received permission for large-scale procurement of groundnut and onions.
- For groundnut, a procurement quantity of 37,273 metric tonnes (MT) has been sanctioned against the state’s estimated production of 1,49,090 MT. The MSP value of this procurement stands at ₹270.71 crore.
- Additionally, the state has been granted approval to procure 97,887 MT of onions under MIS, valued at ₹24.47 crore.
State officials informed that L1 Aadhaar-based biometric verification has already been implemented at Rythu Seva Kendras, helping ensure transparency and strengthening farmers’ confidence in the procurement system.
Record Procurement Approvals for Rajasthan
Rajasthan has secured one of the largest procurement approvals in the country, covering four major crops—moong, urad, groundnut, and soybean.
- Moong: 3,05,750 MT
- Urad: 1,68,000 MT
- Groundnut: 5,54,750 MT
- Soybean: 2,65,750 MT
The total MSP value of these crops is approximately ₹9,436 crore, offering massive support to millions of farmers in the state. Rajasthan has also completed preparations to implement POS-based Aadhaar authentication across procurement centers.
Focus on Transparent and Efficient Procurement
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that ensuring farmers receive the rightful price for their produce remains the government’s topmost priority. He directed states to maintain strong and transparent procurement arrangements to prevent any irregularities and ensure timely payments to farmers.
He further instructed that:
- Aadhaar-enabled devices must be available at all procurement centers,
- Farmer registration and payments should be processed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and
- Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and FPCs must be given a larger role in providing organized and reliable markets.
The Minister reiterated that under no circumstances should the interests of farmers be compromised.
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