Bhopal, April 24: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led state government on Friday, April 24, accusing it of systematically obstructing farmers from selling wheat at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). His criticism followed the Central government's recent approval allowing Madhya Pradesh to procure 10 million tonnes of wheat at MSP. In response, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced extended procurement operations and a revised slot-booking deadline of May 9.

Kamal Nath's Allegations Against the State Government

In a strongly worded post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Kamal Nath alleged that the government deliberately delayed the wheat procurement process by nearly one month, citing a shortage of gunny bags as the stated reason. He argued this forced small and marginal farmers to sell their produce to middlemen at distress prices well below MSP.

When procurement operations eventually commenced, Kamal Nath claimed that the government began rejecting slot bookings from small farmers based on satellite survey data — leaving cultivators baffled as to why their standing crops, clearly visible in their own fields, were being denied procurement eligibility.

He further alleged that the government introduced a discriminatory priority system, mandating that wheat from farmers owning less than five acres be procured first, followed by medium and large landholders. According to him, this sequencing was strategically calculated — since many small farmers had already been pushed into selling to middlemen, the move effectively reduced the total procurement volume while creating an optics of farmer-first policy.

Key Data Points Cited by Kamal Nath

Citing official government data, Kamal Nath highlighted a stark disparity: as of April 23, approximately 1.9 million farmers had registered to sell wheat at MSP, yet only around 700,000 had successfully managed to book procurement slots. He described this gap — over 1.2 million farmers unable to secure a slot — as clear evidence of systemic mismanagement and a deliberate attempt to suppress procurement volumes.

He also questioned the government's procurement target of 10 million tonnes, calling it a political "charade." His argument: Madhya Pradesh produced 24.5 million tonnes of wheat in the previous year and claims to have surpassed that figure in the current season. Procuring only 10 million tonnes — roughly 40 percent of production — he argued, leaves the majority of farmers exposed to exploitative market pricing.

Kamal Nath also demanded a formal government apology for failing to deliver the promised MSP of Rs 2,700 per quintal, warning that farmers across the state are acutely aware of the government's "machinations" and will not remain silent.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's Response and New Measures

Addressing the issue in a televised statement on Friday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a series of measures aimed at accelerating wheat procurement. Procurement centres will now operate six days a week, with Saturdays no longer treated as holidays, ensuring uninterrupted operations at all designated MSP centres.

Critically, the deadline for slot bookings — originally set to close on April 30 — has been extended to May 9, 2025. CM Yadav further indicated that if the situation demands, the deadline could be pushed even further. "It is our government's firm resolve to ensure that our farmer brethren face no difficulties whatsoever; the state government stands firmly with the farmers in every situation," he stated.

Deeper Context: A Pattern of MSP Procurement Challenges in MP

This controversy is not isolated. Madhya Pradesh has historically faced recurring criticism over its wheat and paddy procurement mechanisms, with farmer organisations repeatedly flagging issues around slot availability, infrastructure bottlenecks, and middlemen exploitation. The introduction of satellite-based crop verification — while intended to curb fraud — has emerged as a double-edged sword, disproportionately affecting small farmers with fragmented landholdings whose crops may not register clearly on satellite imagery.

Notably, the Central government's MSP for wheat in 2024-25 stands at Rs 2,275 per quintal — a figure that itself has been contested by farmer groups demanding cost-plus pricing. Madhya Pradesh's own promise of Rs 2,700 per quintal — a Rs 425 bonus over the Central MSP — was a key electoral commitment, and its non-fulfilment adds political weight to Kamal Nath's criticism ahead of local body elections.

The broader implication is significant: with Madhya Pradesh being one of India's top wheat-producing states and contributing substantially to the Food Corporation of India (FCI)'s national buffer stock, any shortfall in state-level procurement has cascading effects on national food security calculations and farmer income stability across the Malwa, Chambal, and Nimar agricultural belts.

What Happens Next

With the slot-booking deadline now extended to May 9 and procurement centres operating six days a week, the coming two weeks will be critical in determining whether the state can bridge the gap between registered farmers (1.9 million) and those who have actually booked slots (700,000). Political pressure from the opposition and farmer groups is likely to intensify if procurement numbers do not improve significantly by early May.

All eyes will also be on whether the satellite survey rejection issue is addressed operationally — a resolution here could unlock procurement for hundreds of thousands of farmers currently stuck in bureaucratic limbo.