MP: Farmers end strike as govt raises moong procurement to 60%, suspends fertiliser e-token system

Farmers in Madhya Pradesh called off their protest after the state government agreed to procure up to 60% of the moong crop from eligible farmers, extended the procurement deadline and suspended the e-token system for fertiliser distribution.

The decisions were announced Wednesday night following talks between state government representatives and farmer leaders at the state secretariat, hours after thousands of protesters marched to within about a kilometre of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's residence after demonstrating outside Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's house.

In an official statement, the government said it had increased the procurement limit for each eligible farmer from 25% to 60% of the moong crop in the larger interest of farmers.

The decision will take immediate effect for farmers producing around three quintals of moong per acre in districts including Narmadapuram, Sehore and Harda, it said, adding that efforts would be made to extend the benefit to the maximum number of cultivators.

The government also extended the procurement deadline from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 and the slot-booking deadline from July 30 to Aug. 10.

State Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana said a committee would examine complaints and practical difficulties related to the e-token system for fertiliser distribution and recommend improvements.

The e-token-based system will remain suspended until the committee submits its recommendations and necessary changes are made, he said.

Some farmer leaders initially maintained their demand for procurement of 100% of the moong crop at the minimum support price and said they would consult other stakeholders before taking a final decision.

However, Prateek Sharma, state coordinator of the Rashtravadi Kisan Army, later told PTI Video that farmers were satisfied with the government's decisions and that all participating organisations had jointly decided to withdraw the agitation.

Additional Superintendent of Police Shailendra Singh Chouhan said the protesting farmers had accepted the government's announcements and were returning home. Buses were arranged to facilitate their return from Roshanpura Square, he said.

Earlier Wednesday, thousands of farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and 18 other organisations breached multiple barricades, demonstrated outside Chouhan's residence and camped at Roshanpura Square, prompting the state government to initiate talks.

The farmers had demanded procurement of the entire summer moong crop at MSP, abolition of the e-token system for fertiliser distribution and timely availability of adequate fertiliser for the next sowing season.

The agitation had disrupted traffic on Narmadapuram Road since Tuesday night after an earlier round of talks with the government failed to break the deadlock.

Chouhan wrote to the chief minister, saying the Centre had approved procurement of up to 4,54,580 metric tonnes of summer moong for Madhya Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme for the 2025-26 season, accounting for 87% of the total quantity approved nationwide under the PM-AASHA scheme.

He clarified that the Centre does not prescribe procurement targets for states and that procurement beyond the prescribed limit under the scheme has to be undertaken by the state government.