The State government has ordered the procurement of sunflower seeds for the 2025-26 rabi season at a support price of ₹7,721 per quintal in 11 districts under the support price scheme.

Sugar, Textiles and Agricultural Marketing Minister Shivanand Patil has directed authorities to open procurement centres in Bagalkot, Belagavi, Ballari, Vijayapura, Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Vijayanagara, Raichur, and Dharwad districts, in accordance with the Union government’s support price guidelines.

The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) have been appointed as the Union government’s procurement agencies, while the Karnataka Cooperative Oilseed Growers’ Federation will serve as the State government’s procurement agency.

Farmers must complete registration within the next 50 days, while procurement will be carried out over the following 60 days. Deputy commissioners, who head the District Task Force Committees, have been instructed to begin the registration and procurement process immediately.

To facilitate farmers in rural areas, procurement centres will be opened in collaboration with organisations that have warehouses equipped with the necessary technical and scientific facilities. Mr. Patil said preparations should begin early to ensure there are no issues during registration and procurement.

He also directed officials to ensure that traders and procurement agencies do not misuse the support price procurement centres in the name of farmers.

Mr. Patil said officials have been asked to provide details of the procurement progress daily to the State government and the Karnataka State Agricultural Marketing Board.