India's Union Agriculture Ministry has approved the procurement of 9023 tons of sunflower at MSP in Karnataka for the Rabi 2026 season. Also, the Centre has increased the maximum procurement limit of gram in Maharashtra for the Rabi 2025-26 season to 8,19,882 metric tons.
Together, these decisions will provide MSP support worth more than ₹4,886.46 crore to farmers, according to an agriculture ministry statement. Approving a proposal from the Karnataka government, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sanctioned the procurement of 9,023 metric tons of sunflower under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for the Rabi 2026 season.
The move is particularly significant for farmers who often face the compulsion to sell their produce at lower prices due to unfavorable market conditions. The government has also extended the procurement period for gram in Maharashtra by 30 days, allowing purchases to continue until May 29, 2026.
This extension is expected to benefit farmers who were unable to sell their produce within the earlier deadline. It will enable a larger number of farmers to avail MSP benefits and avoid selling their produce at lower prices due to market pressure.
Read more at The Hindu Business Line
