Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday conducted a virtual review meeting with the Agriculture and Horticulture Ministers of Madhya Pradesh at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
The meeting examined the procurement of summer moong in Madhya Pradesh, the benefits of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers, and issues related to implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), according to an official release.
Chouhan stated that, following a request from the Madhya Pradesh government, the Government of India initially approved the procurement of 454,580 metric tonnes of summer moong for the 2026 season. Subsequently, an additional 84,492 metric tonnes was approved to safeguard farmers’ interests. This additional approval did not create any financial burden on the state government.
The release noted that the total approved procurement quantity of summer moong for Madhya Pradesh in the 2026 season stood at 539,072 metric tonnes. The procurement period has ended with the state recording procurement of 533,000 metric tonnes of moong. The procurement remained within the approved limit, allowing all willing and registered farmers to sell their produce. This ensured farmers received a fair price for their crops at MSP, providing direct financial benefits.
Procurement operations were primarily conducted through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF), with emphasis on timely payments to farmers and maintaining transparency. The procurement also contributed to strengthening the rural economy.
Compared to the previous year, Madhya Pradesh showed improved performance in moong procurement. In summer 2025, the state procured 393,123.79 metric tonnes against an approved quantity of 419,692 metric tonnes. For summer 2026, both the approved quantity and actual procurement increased. Chouhan said the improvement reflected greater support for farmers and increased confidence in the market.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) in Madhya Pradesh under PMFBY. The state government had sought finalisation of the term sheet for the scheme. Chouhan said the Central Government had taken necessary steps, provided the term sheet to the state government, and urged its prompt implementation.
Progress on the Weather Information Network and Data System (WINDS) in Madhya Pradesh was also discussed. The relevant Central department has communicated with the state government on implementing the system, which remains pending. Officials noted effective implementation of RWBCIS is difficult without WINDS and stressed the need for operationalising it promptly.
The meeting further considered the use of technology-based yield assessment under PMFBY. Madhya Pradesh currently employs technology-based assessments for major crops. The Central Government recommended reintroducing Crop Cutting Experiments to validate and recalibrate these models.
A blended approach combining technology-based assessments with field-level data was advised to improve coordination and yield assessment reliability.
Chouhan emphasised that the Central and state governments would collaborate to strengthen procurement, payment, and crop insurance systems in the interest of farmers. He stated that timely procurement, assured MSP, and an effective crop insurance system are essential to enhancing farmers’ incomes and confidence in the agricultural market.
Source - https://thenewsmill.com
