Centre Approves Procurement of Pulses and Oilseeds for Summer 2025–26

In a major step toward supporting farmers and strengthening India’s food security, the Central Government has approved the procurement of more than 1 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of pulses and oilseeds for the upcoming Summer Crop Season 2025–26. The decision was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, underscoring the Centre’s continued commitment to ensuring remunerative prices for agricultural produce through the Price Support Scheme (PSS).

As part of this approval, the government has sanctioned the procurement of 54,166 MT of Moong (green gram) from the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Additionally, 50,750 MT of Groundnut will be procured in Uttar Pradesh, also under the PSS framework for the same season. These measures aim to protect farmers from distress sales by ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) coverage during the harvesting period.

In line with this commitment, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has also approved an extension of the procurement period in Andhra Pradesh by 15 days, pushing the final date to the 26th of this month. This extension comes as a proactive measure to support farmers who have experienced delays in harvesting or market access.

Moreover, the Government has taken a further step by allowing the procurement of Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masur (Lentils) up to 100% of the total production in each respective state under the PSS for the procurement year 2024–25. This move significantly enhances the scope of government procurement, especially for pulse-producing states, by ensuring that entire state-level production is eligible for support—helping stabilize markets and farmer incomes alike.

Importantly, the Ministry highlighted that under the Union Budget 2025, the Government has extended this procurement initiative for an additional four years, up to 2028–29. This long-term policy direction aims to achieve national self-sufficiency in pulse production, reduce import dependency, and ensure stable supplies of these key protein-rich crops.

With these approvals and policy extensions, the Government continues to take firm strides toward empowering farmers, improving agricultural resilience, and building a sustainable, self-reliant pulse economy in India.