The Union government has approved the procurement of more than 16 lakh tonnes of pulses and oilseeds worth Rs 13,890.60 crore from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat during the 2025–26 kharif season, according to an official notification. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the move is aimed at safeguarding farmers’ incomes by ensuring sales at the minimum support price (MSP).
In Uttar Pradesh, the Centre has cleared the purchase of 2,27,860 tonnes of urad valued at Rs 1,777.30 crore and 1,13,780 tonnes of tur worth Rs 910.24 crore. Smaller volumes include 1,983 tonnes of moong at Rs 17.38 crore and 30,410 tonnes of sesame valued at Rs 299.42 crore. Groundnut procurement has also been approved for 99,438 tonnes, with an outlay of Rs 722.22 crore.
Gujarat has received approval for 47,780 tonnes of urad estimated at Rs 372.68 crore and 1,09,905 tonnes of soybean worth Rs 585.57 crore. The largest allocation is for groundnut, with 12.62 lakh tonnes to be procured at a value of Rs 9,167.08 crore. In addition, 4,415 tonnes of moong will be purchased for Rs 38.71 crore.
Add Zee Business as a Preferred Source
Chairing a virtual meeting with state agriculture ministers and senior officials, Chouhan directed both states to ensure that procurement is carried out transparently and digitally. He emphasised that Aadhaar-based biometric or facial verification systems, along with point-of-sale devices – around 350 in Uttar Pradesh and 400 in Gujarat will be deployed at purchase centres. These measures are designed to prevent intermediaries from exploiting the scheme and to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit.
Officials confirmed that farmers must pre-register with NAFED and NCCF before selling their produce at MSP. All payments will be transferred directly into bank accounts through an integrated digital portal, eliminating manual handling and delays.
Chouhan also said that the procurement volumes sanctioned for the two states could be revised once advance production estimates are available, allowing adjustments to maximise farmer benefits. He added that the adoption of a fully digital, transparent system would guarantee farmers the right to sell their produce at government-declared prices while securing timely payments.
