The Central Government on Thursday, April 23, 2026, announced a major expansion of Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement operations in Chhattisgarh and simultaneously rolled out Bihar's first-ever organised pulse procurement drive under the flagship 'Atmanirbhar Pulses Mission' — a landmark step aimed at strengthening farmer income and achieving national self-reliance in pulse production.

Bihar's Historic First: Structured Masoor Procurement Begins

For the first time in the state's agricultural history, Bihar has seen the launch of a structured, government-backed procurement of masoor (lentils), coordinated by the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF). As of April 22, 2026, the state has set a procurement target of 32,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of masoor under the initiative.

So far, 16 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have been registered, 59 farmers have been onboarded, and 100.4 MT of procurement has already been completed — marking a tangible early start to what officials describe as a transformative initiative.

The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) is also gearing up to scale operations through its cooperative network across Bihar under the Price Support Scheme (PSS). Storage infrastructure is being supported through WDRA-approved warehouses operated in collaboration with the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), ensuring scientifically managed stockpiling that reduces post-harvest losses.

Chhattisgarh Operations Gain Momentum Under PM-AASHA

In Chhattisgarh, the PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan) scheme has significantly accelerated MSP-based procurement, with both NCCF and NAFED playing a central operational role. A key driver of this momentum has been the digitisation of farmer participation through the E-Samyukti portal, which has streamlined registration and transaction processes.

Extensive awareness campaigns — including grassroots community outreach and engagement through Doordarshan — have helped bring more farmers into the formal procurement fold. A network of 85 PACS centres is currently operational across the state, with active procurement underway in districts including Dhamtari, Durg, Balod, Balodabazar, Raipur, Raigarh, and Sarangarh.

Operations are set to expand further into Sarguja, Kondagaon, and Koriya districts, broadening the reach of the MSP safety net to farmers in more remote and tribal-dominated regions of the state.

Why This Matters: The Bigger Policy Picture

India's dependence on pulse imports has been a persistent challenge. According to publicly available trade data, the country regularly imports hundreds of thousands of tonnes of pulses annually to bridge the domestic demand-supply gap. Initiatives like the Atmanirbhar Pulses Mission are designed to directly address this structural vulnerability by incentivising domestic production through guaranteed MSP procurement.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution stated that these initiatives reflect the government's continued focus on strengthening the MSP-based procurement ecosystem, ensuring better price realisation for farmers, and integrating them into formal supply chains — a critical step toward reducing distress sales to private intermediaries at below-MSP rates.

Notably, Bihar — one of India's most agriculturally significant states — had previously lacked a structured, government-backed pulse procurement mechanism, leaving farmers vulnerable to market price volatility. The launch of this initiative addresses a long-standing policy gap in a state where agriculture employs a majority of the workforce.

Digital Infrastructure and Transparency Drive

The expansion of digital platforms like the E-Samyukti portal in Chhattisgarh signals a broader government push to eliminate leakages and middlemen from the procurement chain. By linking farmers directly to cooperative procurement agencies, the system aims to ensure that the full benefit of the MSP reaches the actual cultivator rather than being absorbed by intermediaries.

The use of WDRA-registered warehouses and collaboration with the Central Warehousing Corporation also adds a layer of scientific storage management, which is critical for maintaining grain quality and reducing post-harvest losses — a problem that has historically cost Indian farmers billions of rupees annually.

What to Expect Next

Both NCCF and NAFED have committed to scaling up operations in Chhattisgarh and Bihar, contributing to national food security objectives and price stabilisation under the broader 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' framework. As procurement infrastructure expands and more farmers are onboarded digitally, the government expects enhanced transparency, greater efficiency, and wider outreach — particularly to smallholder and marginal farmers who have historically remained outside formal market mechanisms. Analysts will be watching whether Bihar's 32,000 MT masoor target is met before the current rabi season closes, which will serve as a key indicator of the initiative's real-world effectiveness.