Bhopal, Feb 3 (NationPress) Farmers in Madhya Pradesh are invited to register for wheat procurement at the minimum support price (MSP) for the Rabi marketing year 2026-27. The registration window opens on February 7 and will remain available until March 7.

The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Govind Singh Rajput has urged all eligible farmers to ensure their registration is completed within this one-month timeframe to facilitate smooth participation in the procurement initiative.

The registration process has been simplified for better accessibility, with 3186 dedicated centers established throughout the state. Farmers can register free of charge at facilitation centers located in Gram Panchayat and Janpad Panchayat offices, tehsil offices, and those managed by cooperative societies and marketing institutions.

For farmers choosing paid services, options are available at MP Online kiosks, Common Service Centers, Public Service Centers, and private cyber cafes, with a maximum fee of Rs 50 per registration as stipulated by district collectors.

Proper documentation is essential for mandatory verification, which includes land-related records, the farmer's Aadhaar card, and additional photo identity proofs.

Aadhaar-linked verification is mandatory, either through an OTP sent to the registered mobile number or via biometric methods. The name on the Aadhaar card must correspond with that in the land records; any discrepancies will be clarified through verification at the tehsil office before approval.

Special provisions have been made for tenant farmers, sharecroppers, Kotwars, and forest land leaseholders, who can register solely at centers operated by cooperative societies, followed by 100% verification by the Revenue Department. Ineligible institutions or operators from previous years will not participate in the current process.

The Central Government has set the MSP for wheat at Rs 2585 per quintal for 2026-27, reflecting an increase of Rs 160 from the previous year. This initiative aims to provide fair prices and support farmers amid escalating input costs.

Payments for procured wheat will be directly transferred to the farmer's Aadhaar-linked bank account as a priority. In cases where Aadhaar linkage faces issues, payments can be made to the account details provided during registration, which must include the bank name, account number, and IFSC code. Inactive, joint, or accounts from providers like Fino, Airtel, and Paytm will not be accepted.

To ensure smooth transactions, farmers are encouraged to link their bank accounts and mobile numbers to Aadhaar and maintain updates.

District collectors have been assigned to keep Aadhaar enrollment centers operational at both district and tehsil levels for updates, including biometric data. Post offices providing Aadhaar services can also be utilized, with coordination from banks to assist in linking accounts.

A nominal Re 1 transaction will verify the Aadhaar-linked bank account via the Madhya Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation's e-procurement portal.

Awareness campaigns will include SMS alerts to farmers from past registrations, announcements in villages, notices on Gram Panchayat boards, and banners at mandi and committee levels.