Maharashtra Farmers Urged Not to Sell Soybeans in Distress

29-Oct-2025 11:19 AM

Mumbai. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra has urged soybean producers not to panic and try to sell their produce at throwaway prices, as government procurement will begin soon.

Registration for farmers willing to sell their produce to government agencies at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will begin soon. The MSP for soybeans has been increased by ₹436 to ₹5,328 per quintal this time.

According to the Chief Minister, traders typically purchase soybeans from farmers at lower prices and then sell them to government agencies at the MSP.

To curb this practice, the government wants to purchase soybeans directly from farmers. He also stated that farmers who receive MSP or higher prices in the open market are free to sell their produce there.

The Chief Minister also announced additional relief for farmers affected by floods and rains. He stated that the government has already distributed ₹8,000 crore to approximately 4 million affected farmers, while the state cabinet has now approved an additional ₹11,000 crore, which will reach farmers within 15 days.

The Chief Minister claimed that approximately 90 percent of affected farmers will receive the assistance within the next 20 days, and necessary preparations are underway.

It is noteworthy that this year, soybean acreage in Maharashtra has declined, and natural disasters have also damaged the crop. Consequently, production is expected to decline.

Farmers had hoped for better prices, but producers were disappointed by the extremely low market prices. The loose price of soybean in Maharashtra's markets has dropped to ₹3,800-₹4,000 per quintal, which is approximately 30 percent lower than the government support price of ₹5,328 per quintal. Farmers are eagerly awaiting the start of government procurement. Registration of farmers is expected to begin tomorrow, October 30th.