Bhopal, April 13 (IANS) As wheat procurement gathers pace across Madhya Pradesh, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath has raised concerns over farmers allegedly not receiving the Minimum Support Price (MSP), questioning how effectively the system is working on the ground.

The state government began procurement for the 2026-27 marketing season on April 9 in key divisions, including Indore, Ujjain, Bhopal, and Narmadapuram, after pressure from the Opposition and farmer groups.

According to official data, more than 22,500 metric tonnes of wheat have been procured from over 5,000 farmers since the launch. The remaining divisions are expected to begin operations from April 15.

Amid this, Kamal Nath said that although MSP for wheat is fixed at Rs 2,625 per quintal, farmers are often compelled to sell in mandis at lower rates, between Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,400.

“On paper, procurement has started, and MSP is announced, but farmers are not actually getting that price. This exposes the reality of the system,” Kamal Nath said in a statement on Monday.

The veteran Congress leader alleged that procedural hurdles at procurement centres, including delays, long waiting periods, and limited purchasing capacity, are pushing farmers towards open markets.

“Farmers go to procurement centres hoping for MSP, but due to mismanagement, they are forced to sell outside at throwaway prices,” he added.

He also pointed out that traders often begin bidding below MSP, citing quality concerns. “There are clear rules that bidding cannot start below MSP, yet violations are happening. This shows a lack of monitoring and accountability,” Kamal Nath said.

He urged the state government to ensure strict enforcement of MSP norms and improve procurement arrangements. “If the system fails to guarantee MSP at the grassroots, then the purpose of procurement itself is defeated,” he said.

The remarks come as wheat arrivals are expected to rise further with procurement set to expand across the state in the coming days.

–IANS

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