India expands MSP procurement in Chhattisgarh and starts pulse buying in Bihar
The government widens grain buying efforts as it brings more farmers into formal markets.
INDIA – India has expanded its minimum support price procurement in Chhattisgarh and started a structured pulse procurement program in Bihar, according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The move brings Bihar into organized masoor procurement for the first time under the Atmanirbhar Pulses Mission. The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd are leading the process.
In Bihar, NCCF has started buying masoor with support from WDRA approved warehouses in partnership with the Central Warehousing Corporation. The state has a target of 32,000 tonnes. As of April 22, procurement stood at 100.4 metric tonnes.
NAFED is also preparing to expand procurement in Bihar under the Price Support Scheme through its cooperative network. This step aims to improve access for farmers and link them to structured markets.
In Chhattisgarh, procurement under the PM-AASHA scheme has picked up pace. Farmers now register through the E Samyukti portal, while outreach programs and national television campaigns continue to raise awareness.
Authorities have opened 85 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies centres across districts such as Dhamtari, Durg, Balod, Balodabazar, Raipur, Raigarh and Sarangarh. Officials plan to extend the network to Sarguja, Kondagaon and Koriya.
NCCF has set a target of 63,325 metric tonnes of chana and 5,360 metric tonnes of masoor in the state. So far, it has procured 9,032 metric tonnes of chana and 7.98 metric tonnes of masoor. This has supported 6,129 chana farmers and 28 masoor farmers.
NAFED has opened 137 procurement centres through state agencies and direct operations. It has procured 3,850 metric tonnes of chana and 109 metric tonnes of masoor, benefiting 2,645 chana farmers and 281 masoor farmers.
These efforts show the government’s focus on strengthening MSP based procurement, improving farmer earnings and building stable supply chains across key crops.
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