Is the Centre's Procurement of 5 Crops a Gift for K'taka Farmers this Navratri?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Central government approves MSP for five crops.
- Decision responds to farmers' distress due to heavy rains.
- Union Minister Pralhad Joshi played a key role in the request.
- Prompt action expected from the state government.
- Farmers to receive essential support through MSP.
New Delhi/Bengaluru, Sep 20 (NationPress) In a significant move to support farmers in Karnataka who are suffering due to heavy rainfall, the Central government has made a notable announcement. As a Navratri gift, and following the appeal from Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi, the government has sanctioned the procurement of five crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP), according to a statement released from Minister Joshi's office on Saturday.
For the 2025-26 kharif season, the Centre has mandated the state government to procure green gram (hesaru), black gram (uddina), groundnut (shenga), soybean, and sunflower at MSP. The Union Agriculture Minister has personally communicated this decision to Pralhad Joshi, as noted in the statement.
Karnataka farmers have been significantly affected by the heavy rains this kharif season. In a bid to provide support, Pralhad Joshi reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, advocating for the procurement of these crops at MSP.
In response to Joshi’s plea, Prime Minister Modi has directed immediate relief initiatives for the farmers of Karnataka. Following this, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan swiftly approved the procurement of these crops at MSP, ensuring that the farmers receive the necessary support.
Under the MSP initiative for 2025-26, the Central government has authorized the procurement of 38,000 metric tonnes of green gram, 60,810 MT of black gram, 15,650 MT of sunflower, 61,148 MT of groundnut, and 1,15,000 MT of soybean from Karnataka, as stated by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
It is crucial for the state government to ensure that the MSP support from the Centre is delivered to Karnataka's farmers promptly. Minister Joshi has emphasized the need to establish procurement centers across all districts and to initiate the purchasing process immediately.
On behalf of the farmers in Karnataka, Minister Pralhad Joshi expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for their prompt intervention in alleviating the farmers' distress.