Maharashtra: Soybean farmers await procurement as prices fall below MSP
Soya bean crop, harvested recently, being stored at the house of a farmer in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district
| Photo Credit:
A_M_ FARUQUI
Farmers across Maharashtra are facing mounting distress as soybean prices have plummeted well below the minimum support price (MSP) of ₹5,328 per quintal. In local mandis, soybean is fetching between ₹3,500 and ₹4,000 per quintal — nearly 30 per cent less than the government-declared support rate.
“This year, soybean production in Maharashtra and across India is down by nearly 20–25 per cent. We expected better prices, but that expectation has been shattered. Farmers are now forced to sell at a loss,” said Anil Patil, a farmer from Dharashiv district.
Impact of Madhya Pradesh’s Bhavantar Yojana
Farmers and traders point to Madhya Pradesh’s Bhavantar Yojana as a key factor influencing the market. The scheme compensates soybean growers for the gap between the market price and MSP, ensuring they do not suffer losses.
As Madhya Pradesh farmers continue to benefit from the programme, a steady inflow of soybean from the neighbouring state continues to flow in the markets, dragging down prices further.
The Maharashtra State Co-operative Marketing Federation — the apex body overseeing procurement — has expressed its dissatisfaction over bureaucratic delays in granting permission to co-operatives and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to start purchases. Officials fear that if procurement does not begin immediately, market instability could deepen, hurting both farmers and traders.
Maharashtra’s assurance
Meanwhile Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has urged farmers not to sell below the fair market price. He announced that procurement centres for soybean and cotton will start functioning from October 30, with registration of farmers beginning the same day. “We will purchase everyone’s produce at these centres. Only if traders offer fair prices should farmers sell to them,” he said.
According to sources in the State Agriculture Department, the Maharashtra Government has submitted a proposal to the Union Government seeking permission to procure 10 lakh tonnes of soybean under the price support scheme. Officials say timely approval is crucial to prevent further market distress and ensure that farmers receive at least the MSP for their hard-earned produce.
Published on October 27, 2025
