Bengaluru, Jan 14 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, has addressed a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, emphasizing the dire situation that Bengal gram farmers in Karnataka are currently facing and calling for urgent action from the Centre.

In a post on social media platform X, CM Siddaramaiah remarked, "I have reached out to Prime Minister Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, bringing to their attention the grave crisis confronting Bengal gram farmers in Karnataka. Although there is a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 5,875 per quintal, market prices have plummeted far below this threshold, leading farmers to engage in distress sales."

"I have requested the Centre to initiate procurement under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) immediately to safeguard farmers' incomes and stabilize the market," he added.

The letter conveys, "I am contacting you at a time of profound distress for numerous Bengal gram (chana) growers in Karnataka, whose livelihoods are under severe threat during the ongoing Rabi Marketing season."

Bengal gram is a crucial pulse crop in Karnataka, cultivated across 9.24 lakh hectares, with an estimated yield of 6.27 lakh metric tonnes. It supports farmers in various regions including Dharwad, Gadag, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Bidar, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Chitradurga, Bagalkot, Davanagere, and Chikkamagaluru. For these farmers, many of whom are small-scale producers, the harvest of Bengal gram represents their only source of income after enduring months of labor amidst unpredictable weather conditions.

"Nevertheless, I wish to highlight the urgent market conditions prevailing in the state. Despite the Indian government's declaration of an MSP of Rs 5,875 per quintal for Bengal gram for the Rabi Marketing Season 2026-27, current market prices across major APMCs in Karnataka are substantially below MSP, even prior to the peak harvest arrivals. As the harvest escalates between January and March, there is genuine concern over further price declines, which will worsen rural distress," the letter stated.

This decline in prices is not merely a market anomaly; it signifies a humanitarian crisis. When the announced MSP fails to result in actual procurement, it undermines farmers' trust in the systems designed to protect them. Many producers, burdened by input costs, credits, and family obligations, are being forced into distress sales at a time when public intervention is most critical.

This letter has also been dispatched to the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan.