The Union Agriculture Ministry has approved the procurement of 9023 tonnes of sunflower at MSP in Karnataka for the Rabi 2026 season.

Also, the Centre has increased the maximum procurement limit of gram in Maharashtra for the Rabi 2025-26 season to 8,19,882 metric tonnes.

Together, these decisions will provide MSP support worth more than ₹4,886.46 crore to farmers, according to an agriculture ministry statement.

Approving a proposal from the Karnataka government, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sanctioned the procurement of 9,023 metric tonnes of sunflower under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for the Rabi 2026 season.

The total MSP value of this approval exceeds ₹69.66 crore. The decision is expected to ensure that sunflower farmers in Karnataka receive fair and remunerative prices for their produce.

The move is particularly significant for farmers who often face the compulsion to sell their produce at lower prices due to unfavourable market conditions.

Chouhan also approved a proposal from the Maharashtra government to increase the maximum procurement quantity of gram under the PSS to 8,19,882 metric tonnes for the Rabi 2025–26 season. The total MSP value of this decision exceeds ₹4,816.80 crore.

The government has also extended the procurement period for gram in Maharashtra by 30 days, allowing purchases to continue until May 29, 2026.

This extension is expected to benefit farmers who were unable to sell their produce within the earlier deadline. It will enable a larger number of farmers to avail MSP benefits and avoid selling their produce at lower prices due to market pressure.

The decisions taken by the Centre are aimed at protecting farmers from distress sales and ensuring that they receive fair value for their produce. By expanding procurement operations and extending timelines, the government seeks to create a more secure and predictable environment for agricultural producers.

Published on May 5, 2026