Claim of Timely Commencement of Government Soybean Procurement

20-Mar-2026 04:13 PM

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has claimed that, during the current 2025-26 Kharif marketing season, the process of soybean procurement in the state commenced on schedule, and no farmer was refused the purchase of their produce.

A Maharashtra minister stated that online registration for farmers wishing to sell their soybean produce began on October 30, 2025, and the procurement process was formally launched across various districts on November 15, 2025. The procurement drive continued uninterrupted for 90 days, concluding on February 12, 2026.

The minister acknowledged that, in certain parts of the state, the procurement target for soybean could not be fully achieved; however, the primary reason for this was attributed to price fluctuations.

In regions where market rates improved—rising above the Minimum Support Price (MSP)—farmers ceased bringing their produce to government procurement centers and instead focused on selling their crops in the open market.

The minister further asserted that the Maharashtra government made every possible effort to procure the entire marketable stock of soybean from all farmers, with the aim of ensuring a profitable return for them and preventing them from being compelled to sell their produce at distress prices.