In what seems to be a race to claim credit for the recent revision of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for soybean, Union Agriculture Minister and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and his successor, Mohan Yadav, have inadvertently sparked speculation about a possible rift between the two leaders.

While speculation was rife in the state capital, closer scrutiny suggests that the scramble for credit was triggered by the manner in which the MSP was revised for soybean farmers in Madhya Pradesh by the central government.In recent orders, the central government announced the new soybean MSP for Madhya Pradesh, revising it to Rs 4,892 per quintal.

The revision in prices led followers of both the incumbent Union Agriculture Minister Chouhan and Chief Minister Yadav to vie for credit for the revised prices, which come as a relief to soybean farmers in the state.

However, the episode clearly points to a lack of coordination between the Union Agriculture Ministry and the state government. A few days ago, the Union Agriculture Ministry had approved the MSP for the soybean crop in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana.

However, the decision for Madhya Pradesh was put on hold despite this being Chouhan's home state. After the revision of the soybean MSP for the three states, Chouhan sought to reassure the state's farmers by stating that their interests would also be taken care of.

While many believed that the MSP revision for Madhya Pradesh would also be announced by the Union Minister, the state cabinet met a day later and decided to revise the MSP. 

A proposal for revision was sent to the center, and the recommendations were accepted later that evening.Since the cabinet recommendations received an immediate nod from the center, the state government has sought to take credit for the increase in the MSP and highlight it as an achievement in farmer welfare. While the state government was attempting to claim credit, Chouhan, speaking to the media in New Delhi, listed farmers' interests as his foremost responsibility. He stated that he had approved the state cabinet's recommendations immediately to support farmers in the state.

With the approval of the new MSP, soybean farmers in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh will receive Rs 4,892 per quintal, compared to the prevailing open market price of under Rs 4,000 per quintal.

Remarkably, the battle for credit has emerged at a time when soybean farmers are continuing their agitation in Bhopal to press for their demand to increase the MSP to Rs 6,000 per quintal. The MSP for soybean (yellow) has been fixed at Rs 4,892 per quintal for 2024-25. The oilseed will be procured under the Agriculture Ministry's applicable Price Support Scheme (PSS).In a conversation with The Pioneer, Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari emphasized that his party is committed to the welfare of farmers and that the demand for a Rs 6,000 MSP reflects their stance.

He revealed that starting September 20, the Congress will launch a state-wide movement to press for a more equitable price for soybean farmers.Taking a dig, Patwari said, "Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan first announced the MSP for Maharashtra only because the state goes to the polls this year. Afterwards, he agreed to declare the MSP for Madhya Pradesh to take credit over the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.”Patwari asserted that his party would not remain silent until the demands of agitating farmers are met.Elaborating on the farmers’ demands, Samyukt Kisan Morcha State Media In-Charge Ranjit Kisanvanshi said that this is a long-standing demand.