The Madhya Pradesh government has increased the procurement limit for moong (green gram) from 25% to 60% of each eligible farmer’s produce following talks with protesting farmer groups.
State Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana announced the decision after a late-night meeting with representatives of 16 farmer organisations, aimed at resolving protests that have continued for the past three days.
The government also decided to extend the procurement and slot booking period by 10 days, providing farmers with more time to sell their produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
In another major relief, the state has temporarily suspended the e-token system for fertiliser distribution. A high-level committee will now review issues related to the system and recommend improvements before it is reintroduced.
The protests, led by the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, demanded 100% procurement of moong and the complete withdrawal of the e-token system, arguing that it made fertiliser distribution difficult. Farmers also sought procurement of 5–6 quintals of moong per acre, compared to the current procurement level of around 1.2 quintals per acre.
During the agitation, farmers blocked the Hoshangabad Highway near Bhopal, disrupting traffic and affecting thousands of commuters. The district administration declared a holiday for schools located along the Narmadapuram Road, while police diverted traffic and deployed additional personnel to maintain order.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had earlier formed a four-member committee to negotiate with farmer leaders and find a solution to their demands.
Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan clarified that under the PM-AASHA scheme, the Centre cannot procure more than 25% of the total production, but state governments are free to purchase additional quantities using their own resources. He also noted that Madhya Pradesh had so far procured only a fraction of its allocated quota and urged the state to increase procurement.
The revised procurement policy is expected to provide significant relief to moong growers while easing tensions between the government and protesting farmers.
