New Delhi, Sep 23 (NationPress) Union Minister for Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given the green light for a proposal to acquire pulses and oilseeds totaling ₹13,890.60 crore at the minimum support price (MSP) from farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat for the Kharif 2025–26 season.

Chouhan sanctioned the full procurement of urad (black lentils) and tur (pigeon pea) from farmers, and also approved purchases of moong (green gram), sesame, and groundnut in Uttar Pradesh, along with soybean, moong, and groundnut in Gujarat. He emphasized the need for a transparent procurement process to safeguard the interests of farmers.

A virtual meeting led by Chouhan included Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi and Gujarat Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel, along with Union Agriculture Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi and senior officials from both state and central agriculture departments.

Both state Agriculture Ministers assured that procurement would be conducted through digital platforms with biometric authentication and POS machine systems.

Chouhan emphasized that this digital and transparent system will guarantee that every eligible farmer has the right to sell crops at the government-set price and receive prompt payments directly into their bank accounts.

Following discussions regarding the proposal for Uttar Pradesh, Chouhan approved the procurement of 2,27,860 metric tonnes (100%) of urad valued at ₹1,777.30 crore. He also sanctioned the full procurement of 1,13,780 metric tonnes of tur, worth ₹910.24 crore. Additionally, 1,983 metric tonnes of moong, valued at ₹17.38 crore, will be procured. The procurement of 30,410 metric tonnes of sesame worth ₹299.42 crore and 99,438 metric tonnes of groundnut worth ₹722.22 crore has also been approved.

For Gujarat, Chouhan authorized the procurement of 47,780 metric tonnes of urad valued at ₹372.68 crore, along with 1,09,905 metric tonnes of soybean worth ₹585.57 crore. He also approved the procurement of 12,62,163 metric tonnes of groundnut worth ₹9,167.08 crore, and 4,415 metric tonnes of moong valued at ₹38.71 crore.

The Union Agriculture Minister stressed the importance of ensuring complete transparency in the procurement process to eliminate any potential irregularities, directing that only genuine farmers benefit, without the interference of middlemen.

Instructions have been issued to deploy Aadhaar-based biometric or facial authentication and POS machines—approximately 350 in Uttar Pradesh and about 400 in Gujarat—before procurement begins at all centers. Letters have been dispatched to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) for the pre-registration of farmers, ensuring that only registered farmers can sell their crops at the MSP. The entire procurement process will be executed digitally through the e-Samriddhi and e-Samyukti portals, allowing for direct payments into farmers’ bank accounts.

Chouhan further mentioned that the approved quantities may be adjusted if necessary after the release of the first advance estimates for Kharif 2025–26, ensuring maximum benefits for farmers.