Bhopal, Oct 22 (NationPress) Madhya Pradesh is gearing up to begin the procurement of soybean under the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (BBY), with activities scheduled to start on October 24 and extend until January 15, 2026.

Revered as the ‘soya bowl of India’, the state generally yields between 40 to 50 lakh tonnes of soybean each season, with extraordinary years -- such as one recently noted by government assessments -- reaching an astonishing 84 lakh tonnes. Despite this agricultural richness, farmers have faced persistent challenges with price fluctuations in the open market.

Initiated in 2017 under the leadership of then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana was designed as an innovative measure to shield farmers from market instabilities.

The program promised to reimburse farmers for the gap between the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the actual market price. Initially introduced as a pilot program covering eight crops -- including soybean, maize, moong, urad, and groundnut -- it was celebrated as a potential model for nationwide implementation. However, its launch faced setbacks due to payment delays, complex registration processes, and claims of price manipulation by traders, leading to its suspension under the Kamal Nath administration.

Now, under the guidance of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, the scheme has been revitalized with enhanced digital measures.

In a recent update via his official X account, Dr Yadav announced that 9.36 lakh farmers have signed up for the current season. Soybean, a crucial kharif crop, will be available for trade in mandis during the procurement period, and officials are mandated to ensure that the differential amount is directly transferred to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) via the e-procurement portal. SMS notifications will be sent to keep beneficiaries updated, thereby boosting transparency and efficiency.

Tuesday was dedicated to promoting farmer welfare, commencing with the Govardhan festival -- a symbolic tribute to nature’s gifts -- and concluding with strategic discussions at the Chief Minister’s residence. The review centered on the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana and the Solar Pump Yojana, both vital to the state's agricultural policies.

Dr Yadav instructed officials to accelerate subsidy-related administrative processes, emphasizing the necessity of putting farmers' welfare at the forefront of every government decision. 'They are the backbone of Madhya Pradesh’s economy,' he affirmed.