Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh has formally reached out to CM Mohan Yadav regarding a brewing crisis in the agricultural sector related to the procurement of summer moong. Singh expressed urgent concern over the plummeting prices of the crop in private markets, which have fallen below the government-mandated Minimum Support Price even before the peak arrival season has begun.
Singh highlighted that the summer moong crop has seen a 15-20% increase in sowing this year. He cautioned that the current market trends could lead to an economic disaster for the state’s farming community. The crop is now fully mature in various regions of Madhya Pradesh, with a significant influx of produce expected in the mandis soon.
According to Singh, without immediate government intervention, farmers may be compelled to resort to distress sales, selling their harvest at prices insufficient to cover their production costs. He pointed out that the state administration’s lack of proactive measures, as highlighted by former Agriculture Advisory Council member Kedar Sirohi, is concerning. Singh emphasized the need for the state government to submit its annual procurement proposal to the Central government promptly to enable large-scale buy-backs at the Minimum Support Price under the Price Support Scheme.
Singh stressed that the livelihoods of numerous farmers hinge on the timely establishment of these procurement centers. He warned that any further delay in coordination between state and central authorities could severely impact the rural population’s interests. By underscoring the absence of a proposal sent to the Centre this year, Singh called on the current administration to prioritize farmers’ welfare over bureaucratic procedures. He urged CM Yadav to expedite the necessary permissions to ensure that the state’s farmers receive fair returns for their hard work.
