Katol MLA Charan Singh Thakur delivered a fierce attack in the Assembly, accusing the current soybean procurement system of “punishing farmers instead of supporting them.” He said the Nagpur region—especially Katol and Narkhed—has recorded one of its highest soybean harvests this year, yet farmers are being pushed into losses because the Maharashtra State Cooperative Cotton Federation (MCCF) has imposed an “absurdly low” procurement cap.
MCCF, he said, is buying only 7 quintals and 50 kg per farmer, regardless of actual yield. Thakur argued that this arbitrary limit is crippling farmers and forcing them to dump the rest of their produce in the open market, where prices have crashed. Traders, he warned, are exploiting the glut and compelling distress sales.
Thakur highlighted glaring regional disparities: Amravati allows 17 quintals, Wardha 15 quintals, and Bhandara 10 quintals, while high-yield regions like Katol and Narkhed are capped at just 7 quintals. “Why are the most productive farmers being restricted the most?” he demanded, calling for an immediate correction.
He urged the State to mandate 17–18 quintals per hectare for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, ensuring fair MSP access and preventing a bumper crop from turning into a bumper loss. Thakur said the government must expand procurement to match real production and shield farmers from market manipulation.
The pressure on the Agriculture and Marketing Department has now intensified, with soybean growers across Vidarbha awaiting urgent relief.
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