Madhya Pradesh raises purchase limit to 60% due to farmer protests.
The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) raised the limit for Moong purchases from 25% to 60% of the total crop following a meeting between state agriculture minister Aidal Singh Kansana and farmers’ representatives.
The decision comes after nearly 2,000 farmers, who broke through police barricades to reach the state capital, set up a camp near Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s residence.
Farmer and labor groups to intensify protests against Centre’s policies
“In districts like Narmadapuram, Sehore and Harda, it will be around 3 cents per acre. The decision will be taken immediately and efforts will be made to benefit maximum number of farmers,” Mr. Kansana said.
He added that the slot reservation deadline for procurement has been extended to August 10, while the procurement deadline has been moved from August 10 to August 20.
Additionally, the state government has suspended the MSP e-token scheme for fertilizer distribution. “A high-level committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister’s Agricultural Production Commission will be formed to review the system and suggest necessary reforms,” the minister added.
However, Subodh Raikhere, representing farmers, dismissed the move as an attempt to “pacify” the protest ahead of the Datia Assembly by-election on Thursday (July 30, 2026). He said the farmers will continue to camp in Bhopal and will decide on their next course of action tomorrow after consulting all the 19 organizations involved.
“This is a lollipop to end the Datia election movement. We stand by our demand for 100% purchase,” he told reporters.
As events unfolded
Earlier in the day, farmers carrying bedding, cooking essentials and other provisions anticipating a longer stay, broke through police barricades on the Narmadapuram road and blockades at several places before entering the city.
By evening, protesters had reached Polytechnic Square, less than a kilometer from the chief minister’s residence, prompting authorities to block the road with buses and barricades.
Farmers representing at least 19 organisations, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), resumed their march on Wednesday (July 30, 2026) afternoon after a meeting between farmer leaders and the state agriculture minister proved futile.
Farmers from Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Vidisha and Raisen are marching towards the capital from Monday (July 27, 2026) as part of the ‘Kisan Kranti Padyatra’ (Farmers’ Revolutionary March).
Disparity in procurement
The Union government had earlier agreed to purchase 4.54 lakh metric tonnes of moong from Madhya Pradesh at a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹8,780 per quintal for the 2026-27 marketing season. This quota is well below the total estimated production of 20.16 million metric tons, which limits government procurement to about 25%.
The state has requested the Center to increase the purchase limit to more than 8 thousand metric tonnes, with Mr. Kansana writing to Mr. Chouhan to this effect.
In response to Mr Kansana’s letter, Mr Chouhan wrote to Chief Minister Yadav on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) that under the scheme, the Union government can only purchase 25% of the crop from the state and that any additional purchases from farmers are made by the states.
“According to the data received by the central government as on July 29, 2026, the procurement of moong in the state is around 60,000 metric tonnes. Therefore, keeping in view the larger interests of the farmers, the state government is requested to kindly ensure prompt procurement of moong,” he said, adding that in previous years as well, the state government had done additional procurement on time.
During the budget session in February, Mr. Chouhan informed the Rajya Sabha that the Union Government intends to ensure 100% procurement of tur (pigeon pea), masoor (lentil) and urad (black gram). “Whatever quantity the farmers produce and want to sell, the center will procure in full,” he said, according to a statement by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Addiction to moong
Earlier, farmers said the government was buying only 1.2 to 1.5 cents per acre from MSP. With yields this season at 4-5 quintals per acre, farmers are forced to sell the surplus in the open market at ₹4,000-5,000 per quintal.
Badal Saroj, general secretary of All India Kisan Sabha and member of SKM, told The Hindu that moong is vital to the regional economy.
“Being a profitable crop, a large part of the agricultural economy of the region depends on it. Good production due to favorable natural factors this year has prompted farmers to demand full purchase,” he said.
He added that the agitation will continue until the government guarantees full procurement and starts buying. “Shivraj Singh Chouhan promised complete procurement when he was CM and again when he became (Union) Agriculture Minister. CM Mohan Yadav also made similar promises but nobody acted on it,” he added.
Student support
The protest also received support from the students.
“Students protested a few days ago and now the farmers are here. The government held debates on Hindu-Muslim issues in the recent assembly session. This shows that those in power do not understand the farmers’ pain. Shivraj ji talks about AI, drones and scientific farming, but in his own state farmers are still struggling to get fertilizer right,” said Rohit Bharti, a political science student in Bhopal.
He said he joined the protest because he comes from a farming family and understands the problems they face.
The farmers’ march also prompted the police to call in additional forces and deploy measures such as water cannons in addition to diverting traffic on various routes. The district administration has also declared holidays for various educational institutions along the march route.