Center approves ₹15,000 crore procurement scheme for pulses and oilseeds in four states

The Center on Monday approved a scheme to procure pulses and oilseeds worth over Rs 15,000 crore from farmers in four states including Maharashtra.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has approved the procurement plan for pulses and oilseeds in the states of Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for the Kharif 2025-26 season, according to an official statement.

“The total sanctioned procurement amount for these states is estimated at ₹15,095.83 crore, which will immensely benefit lakhs of farmers in the respective states,” it said.

Chouhan gave these approvals under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-ASHA) and other schemes of the ministry during a high-level virtual meeting with agriculture ministers and senior officials of these states.

After detailed discussion, Chouhan approved procurement of 4,430 tonnes of moong (green gram) in Telangana at a cost of ₹38.44 crore under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), which is 25% of the state’s total production.

100% procurement of urad (black gram) will be done, while 25% procurement of soybean has also been approved.

Similarly, in Odisha, 18,470 tonnes of arhar (red gram), representing 100% of the state’s production, has been approved under PSS with a budget allocation of ₹147.76 crore.

In Maharashtra, Chouhan approved procurement of 33,000 tonnes of moong (green gram), 3,25,680 tonnes of urad (black gram), and 18,50,700 tonnes of soybean at a total cost of ₹289.34 crore, ₹2,540.30 crore, and ₹9,860.53 crore, respectively, under PSS.

In Madhya Pradesh, procurement of 22,21,632 tonnes of soybean has been approved under the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS), with a financial implication of ₹1,775.53 crore.

Chauhan said that the purchase of pulses and oilseeds will ensure better returns to the farmers for their produce.

The minister further said that the top priority of the central government is to secure the income and dignity of the farmers.

He said the record procurement of pulses and oilseeds in these states for the Kharif 2025-26 season will boost agricultural production, ensure assured income for farmers and help achieve the goal of self-reliant India.

Chouhan said the government has made arrangements for procurement of tur, urad and lentils through NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India).