The period of soybean purchase in Maharashtra and Telangana and groundnut purchase in Gujarat has been extended.

11-Feb-2025 03:58 PM

The Central Government's decision to extend the soybean and groundnut purchase periods from farmers in Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, and Karnataka highlights the ongoing support for farmers in these regions.

The extensions—24 days in Maharashtra, 13 days in Telangana, 6 days in Gujarat, and 25 days in Karnataka—are intended to help farmers who still have stock available for sale at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

This move aims to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their crops, as market prices for these commodities are currently lower than the MSP.

The MSP for soybean has been set at Rs 4892 per quintal, while groundnut is set at Rs 6783 per quintal.

Despite significant government purchases—19.99 lakh tonnes of soybean from over 8.4 lakh farmers and 15.73 lakh tonnes of groundnut from around 4.75 lakh farmers—many farmers still have substantial stocks. Central agencies like NAFED and NCCF are responsible for these purchases.

The government’s commitment to ensuring fair pricing and helping farmers sell their remaining produce is crucial, especially given the discrepancies between market prices and MSP.

This extension reflects the government’s effort to maintain agricultural stability and alleviate farmers’ concerns during the current Kharif marketing season.