Over Rs 1,428 crore MSP-backed procurement under PM-AASHA to boost farmer incomes and ensure transparent buying

In a major relief to farmers in Odisha, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare & Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has approved procurement of five key crops—moong, urad, groundnut, sunflower and mustard—at Minimum Support Price (MSP), with a total approved value exceeding Rs 1,428.31 crore.

The decision was taken during a virtual meeting held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, with Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. The approvals follow a detailed review of proposals submitted by the state government, along with production estimates and procurement requirements.

As part of the approved procurement, 34,492 metric tonnes of moong have been sanctioned with an MSP value of Rs 302.42 crore, while 1,19,387 metric tonnes of urad have been approved with an MSP value of Rs 931.21 crore. Additionally, procurement of 20,219 metric tonnes of groundnut worth Rs 146.85 crore has been cleared.

In the oilseeds segment, approval has been granted for 2,210 metric tonnes of sunflower with an MSP value of Rs 17.06 crore, and 4,964 metric tonnes of mustard with an MSP value of Rs 30.77 crore.

The procurement will be undertaken over a 90-day period under the PM-AASHA scheme. The Odisha government is already implementing a Point of Sale (PoS)-based procurement system to ensure efficiency, transparency, and direct benefit transfer to farmers.

Emphasising transparency and accountability, Chouhan clearly stated that procurement must be conducted directly from farmers, ensuring that MSP benefits reach genuine producers without any role of intermediaries. He stressed that strict monitoring is essential to prevent middlemen from exploiting the system and to ensure that farmers receive full and timely payments.

The Union Minister also highlighted the importance of sunflower cultivation, noting that the crop has been declining in several regions across the country. He expressed satisfaction that sunflower cultivation continues in Odisha and assured the state of full central support, including scientific and technical assistance, to expand its area and production.

Reaffirming the Centre’s commitment, Chouhan stated that no shortfall will be allowed in supporting Odisha’s farmers, provided the procurement process remains transparent, honest, and farmer-centric. He urged the state government to establish a robust system that ensures procurement strictly from farmers and prevents any misuse by traders.