Biometric screening will be necessary for the purchase of pulses and oilseeds from the next Kharif season

12-May-2025 03:44 PM

New Delhi. The Union Agriculture Ministry has decided to make biometric face authentication and the use of point of sale (PoS) machines mandatory for the procurement of pulses and oilseeds at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) starting from the Kharif Marketing Season of 2025–26.

This step is aimed at ensuring that only genuine farmers receive the benefits of government procurement schemes. The rule has been implemented under Section 37 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, and came into effect on 21 April 2025. Under this system, farmers will undergo biometric screening at designated government procurement centers, and only after successful verification will the procurement proceed.

In the current year’s Kharif season, the government made record purchases of soybean and groundnut, along with substantial procurement of moong.

According to officials, this new biometric rule will help include only authentic and new producers in the process. At present, central agencies such as NAFED and NCCF, along with a few state agencies, are responsible for purchasing pulses and oilseeds at MSP.

So far, PoS machines have only been used for the purchase of rice (paddy) and wheat. From the next Kharif season, the same system will apply to pulses and oilseeds as well.

The government aims to ensure that procurement is done exclusively from registered farmers to prevent misuse of support prices and ensure that real producers benefit.

Procurement of pulses and oilseeds falls under schemes like the Price Support Scheme, the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), and the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan.

Additionally, the Centre has reduced the purchase window for pulses and oilseeds from three months (90 days) to two months (60 days), although it may be extended by another month (30 days) if necessary. This change will require farmers to sell their produce more quickly.