Guarantee of fixed purchase at MSP is necessary for crop diversification

26-May-2025 12:05 PM

New Delhi. To reduce dependence on pulse imports and support ethanol production, the Central Government has registered over 64 lakh farmers nationwide on a digital platform through two authorized agencies—NAFED and NCCF. These agencies will procure tur, urad,

masoor (lentils), and maize from registered farmers at the minimum support price (MSP), aiming to boost production and promote crop diversification. Farmers from major producing states have been included in this initiative.

According to available data, NAFED has registered 38 lakh farmers, while NCCF has registered 26 lakh for fixed MSP procurement. Currently, only three pulses—tur, urad, and masoor—are covered under the fixed procurement system.

Gram and moong are excluded, though they are also procured at MSP under regular schemes. Critics argue that these two pulses should also be added to the list of crops with guaranteed MSP procurement.

The fixed procurement system began during last year’s Kharif season. Farmers are being pre-registered on NAFED's e-Samriddhi and NCCF's e-Samyukti portals.

Their crops are later procured based on Aadhaar verification. This process, under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), is designed to prevent farmers from being forced to sell below MSP.

The government has announced 100 percent procurement of tur, urad, and masoor at MSP. While high market prices over the past two years limited government procurement of tur, this year’s response has been better.

Previously, the purchase cap for these pulses was set at 25 percent, but that restriction has now been removed. Sowing of tur and urad is about to begin soon.