The soybean procurement process in Maharashtra was carried out on schedule and no farmer was refused procurement, Textile Minister Sanjay Savkare informed the Legislative Council during Question Hour.
The issue was raised by member Sadabhau Khot, with supplementary questions posed by members Pravin Darekar and Shashikant Shinde.
Responding to the queries, Savkare said that online registration of farmers began on October 30, 2025, while actual procurement commenced on November 15, 2025. The procurement drive continued for 90 days and concluded on February 12, 2026.
The minister noted that in some regions, procurement targets were not fully met. He attributed this primarily to fluctuations in market prices, stating that many farmers opted to sell their produce in the open market after receiving better rates.
He emphasized that the state government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement mechanism is aimed at ensuring farmers receive a minimum assured price and are protected from exploitation. However, when market prices are higher than the MSP, farmers stand to benefit by selling their produce in the open market, he added.
Published on March 19, 2026
