MP moong farmers march on Bhopal; only 2% of MSP quota procured
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh approved 4.54 lakh metric tonnes of moong procurement for 2025-26 — but only 2% had been purchased by mid-July. Now thousands of farmers are marching on Bhopal, and the opposition is demanding answers. The gap between policy sanction and ground-level delivery is the real story here.
Key Takeaways
More than 2,000 farmers are marching towards Bhopal under the 'Kisan Kranti' banner organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha .
The Centre approved 4.54 lakh metric tonnes of moong procurement for Madhya Pradesh in 2025-26 — nearly 87% of the national total.
Only around 2% of the approved quantity had been procured as of 16 July , according to media reports cited by Nath.
Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath urged the BJP state government to ensure transparent, time-bound MSP procurement.
19 farmer organisations have joined the agitation; farmers have threatened to besiege the Chief Minister's residence if demands are unmet.
Police have tightened security at Bhopal's entry points and allegedly barricaded roads in Vidisha, Raisen, Harda, Narmadapuram , and Budhni districts.
Hundreds of farmers marched towards Bhopal on Tuesday, 28 July 2025, demanding 100 per cent government procurement of moong (green gram) at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), as former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath pressed the state's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to urgently accelerate purchases. The two-day-old 'Kisan Kranti' march, organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, has drawn more than 2,000 farmers along with hundreds of tractors and trolleys onto state highways.
The Procurement Crisis
Madhya Pradesh is India's largest moong-producing state, and the Centre has approved procurement of approximately 4.54 lakh metric tonnes for the state in the 2025-26 season — nearly 87 per cent of the total quantity approved nationally. Yet, according to media reports cited by Nath, only around 2 per cent of that approved quantity had actually been procured as of 16 July. The gap between sanction and action is at the heart of the farmers' grievance.
Farmers on the March
The protest began from Barkheda and was briefly halted near the Obaidullaganj toll plaza before authorities allowed the column to proceed towards Bhopal. Farmer leaders alleged that police erected barricades in Vidisha, Raisen, Harda, Narmadapuram, and Budhni districts to prevent farmers from joining the march — a charge that has not been officially confirmed. 19 farmer organisations from across the state are reportedly participating in the agitation. Police have tightened security at Bhopal's entry points and are closely monitoring the movement.
What Kamal Nath Said
In a formal statement, Nath warned that the slow procurement pace is forcing moong growers to offload their produce at distress prices. 'The situation is extremely concerning for lakhs of farmers. Moong growers are waiting to sell their produce at MSP. Due to the slow pace of procurement, they are being forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices,' he said. He called on the state government to issue directions for 'transparent, systematic and time-bound procurement of moong at MSP so that farmers get a fair price for their produce and the benefit of MSP on time.'
Key Demands and Next Steps
Beyond full MSP procurement, farmers are also demanding improvements in the fertiliser distribution system. Farmer leaders have warned they will lay siege to the Chief Minister's residence if their demands are not met. This comes amid a broader national conversation on MSP implementation, with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha having previously led the prolonged 2020-21 farm laws agitation. The Madhya Pradesh government has not issued a public response to the demands as of Tuesday evening.
Point of View
And the state managed to purchase roughly 2% of that by mid-July, well into the harvest season. That is not a logistical hiccup; it is a systemic failure of implementation. MSP as a policy exists on paper; the delivery mechanism is where it routinely collapses. Kamal Nath's intervention is politically timed, but the numbers he cites are damning regardless of who raises them. The BJP government's silence — no counter-figure, no rebuttal — is telling. If 'Kisan Kranti' reaches the Chief Minister's doorstep, the optics for a party that has staked its rural identity on farmer welfare will be difficult to manage.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are farmers marching to Bhopal in the Kisan Kranti protest?
Farmers are marching to Bhopal to demand 100 per cent government procurement of moong at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the 2025-26 season. They allege that only about 2% of the Centre-approved procurement quota of 4.54 lakh metric tonnes had been purchased by 16 July, forcing them to sell at below-MSP prices.
What is the approved moong MSP procurement quota for Madhya Pradesh in 2025-26?
The Centre has approved procurement of approximately 4.54 lakh metric tonnes of moong for Madhya Pradesh in the 2025-26 season, which accounts for nearly 87 per cent of the total quantity approved across India. As of 16 July, only around 2% of this had reportedly been procured.
What did Kamal Nath demand from the Madhya Pradesh government?
Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath urged the BJP state government to issue directions for transparent, systematic, and time-bound procurement of moong at MSP. He warned that the slow pace is forcing farmers to sell their produce at distress prices.
Who organised the Kisan Kranti march and how many farmers are involved?
The Kisan Kranti march was organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, with 19 farmer organisations from across Madhya Pradesh joining the agitation. More than 2,000 farmers, along with hundreds of tractors and trolleys, are reportedly participating.
What happens if the government does not meet the farmers' demands?
Farmer leaders have threatened to lay siege to the Chief Minister's residence if their demands — including 100% MSP procurement of moong and improvements in fertiliser distribution — are not accepted. The Madhya Pradesh government had not issued a public response as of Tuesday evening.
