Demands not met: Farmers scuffle with cops after talks with Madhya Pradesh govt
The tense scenes unfolded shortly after a three-hour meeting between the state government and farmer representatives, following which the government announced a series of concessions, including a sharp increase in procurement of moong at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Farmers and police briefly came face to face in Bhopal on Wednesday night after talks between the Madhya Pradesh government and farmer representatives ended.
A minor scuffle broke out after protesters attempted to move forward despite repeated police appeals to remain calm. Officers used loudspeakers to urge them to maintain peace.
The tense scenes unfolded shortly after a three-hour meeting between the state government and representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which has been leading the protest.
GOVT ANNOUNCES SOPS FOR FARMERS
Addressing a press conference, Farmer Welfare Minister Aidal Singh Kansana said the state had decided to increase MSP procurement from 25 per cent to 60 per cent of each eligible farmer's moong produce following discussions with farmer representatives.
He said the decision would benefit farmers in districts such as Narmadapuram, Sehore and Harda, where the revised procurement works out to around three quintals per acre, and would take effect immediately.
The government also extended the slot-booking deadline by 10 days, allowing farmers to register until August 10 instead of July 30. The procurement deadline has similarly been extended from August 10 to August 20.
Kansana said complaints over the fertiliser e-token system would be examined by a high-level committee headed by the chairman of the Chief Minister's Agricultural Production Commission. Until the review is completed, the e-token system for fertiliser distribution has been suspended with immediate effect.
He also wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requesting an increase in the summer procurement target for moong. In the letter, Kansana said the existing quota set by the Centre would not allow farmers to fully benefit from the MSP and sought a higher procurement target to ensure better prices and encourage pulse cultivation.
MSP ISSUE IN MADHYA PRADESH
The MSP procurement issue has emerged as a major flashpoint in the state.
Earlier this week, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath alleged that despite Madhya Pradesh being the country's largest moong producer, only 2 per cent of the Centre's procurement quota of 4.54 lakh metric tonnes for 2025-26 had been purchased, forcing farmers to sell their produce at throwaway prices.
The protesting farmers are demanding 100 per cent procurement of moong at MSP, resolution of issues with the e-token system, and timely availability of fertilisers.
Despite the announcements, farmer leaders said the government had failed to address all of their demands.
"The government has given us a lollipop. Our demands have not been fully accepted. The agitation will continue," a farmer leader said.
HOW THE PROTESTS BEGAN
The protest began after hundreds of farmers, waving the Tricolour and raising "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" and anti-government slogans, reached Bhopal on Tuesday following a march from Budhni in Sehore district.
They had announced plans to gherao Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's residence but were stopped by police near Veer Savarkar Bridge.
The overnight agitation disrupted traffic on the busy Narmadapuram Road, prompting authorities to divert vehicles, deploy heavy security and declare a holiday for schools in nearby areas.
Farmers and police briefly came face to face in Bhopal on Wednesday night after talks between the Madhya Pradesh government and farmer representatives ended.
A minor scuffle broke out after protesters attempted to move forward despite repeated police appeals to remain calm. Officers used loudspeakers to urge them to maintain peace.
The tense scenes unfolded shortly after a three-hour meeting between the state government and representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which has been leading the protest.
GOVT ANNOUNCES SOPS FOR FARMERS
Addressing a press conference, Farmer Welfare Minister Aidal Singh Kansana said the state had decided to increase MSP procurement from 25 per cent to 60 per cent of each eligible farmer's moong produce following discussions with farmer representatives.
He said the decision would benefit farmers in districts such as Narmadapuram, Sehore and Harda, where the revised procurement works out to around three quintals per acre, and would take effect immediately.
The government also extended the slot-booking deadline by 10 days, allowing farmers to register until August 10 instead of July 30. The procurement deadline has similarly been extended from August 10 to August 20.
Kansana said complaints over the fertiliser e-token system would be examined by a high-level committee headed by the chairman of the Chief Minister's Agricultural Production Commission. Until the review is completed, the e-token system for fertiliser distribution has been suspended with immediate effect.
He also wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requesting an increase in the summer procurement target for moong. In the letter, Kansana said the existing quota set by the Centre would not allow farmers to fully benefit from the MSP and sought a higher procurement target to ensure better prices and encourage pulse cultivation.
MSP ISSUE IN MADHYA PRADESH
The MSP procurement issue has emerged as a major flashpoint in the state.
Earlier this week, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath alleged that despite Madhya Pradesh being the country's largest moong producer, only 2 per cent of the Centre's procurement quota of 4.54 lakh metric tonnes for 2025-26 had been purchased, forcing farmers to sell their produce at throwaway prices.
The protesting farmers are demanding 100 per cent procurement of moong at MSP, resolution of issues with the e-token system, and timely availability of fertilisers.
Despite the announcements, farmer leaders said the government had failed to address all of their demands.
"The government has given us a lollipop. Our demands have not been fully accepted. The agitation will continue," a farmer leader said.
HOW THE PROTESTS BEGAN
The protest began after hundreds of farmers, waving the Tricolour and raising "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" and anti-government slogans, reached Bhopal on Tuesday following a march from Budhni in Sehore district.
They had announced plans to gherao Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's residence but were stopped by police near Veer Savarkar Bridge.
The overnight agitation disrupted traffic on the busy Narmadapuram Road, prompting authorities to divert vehicles, deploy heavy security and declare a holiday for schools in nearby areas.
Farmers and police briefly came face to face in Bhopal on Wednesday night after talks between the Madhya Pradesh government and farmer representatives ended.
A minor scuffle broke out after protesters attempted to move forward despite repeated police appeals to remain calm. Officers used loudspeakers to urge them to maintain peace.
The tense scenes unfolded shortly after a three-hour meeting between the state government and representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which has been leading the protest.
GOVT ANNOUNCES SOPS FOR FARMERS
Addressing a press conference, Farmer Welfare Minister Aidal Singh Kansana said the state had decided to increase MSP procurement from 25 per cent to 60 per cent of each eligible farmer's moong produce following discussions with farmer representatives.
He said the decision would benefit farmers in districts such as Narmadapuram, Sehore and Harda, where the revised procurement works out to around three quintals per acre, and would take effect immediately.
The government also extended the slot-booking deadline by 10 days, allowing farmers to register until August 10 instead of July 30. The procurement deadline has similarly been extended from August 10 to August 20.
Kansana said complaints over the fertiliser e-token system would be examined by a high-level committee headed by the chairman of the Chief Minister's Agricultural Production Commission. Until the review is completed, the e-token system for fertiliser distribution has been suspended with immediate effect.
He also wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requesting an increase in the summer procurement target for moong. In the letter, Kansana said the existing quota set by the Centre would not allow farmers to fully benefit from the MSP and sought a higher procurement target to ensure better prices and encourage pulse cultivation.
MSP ISSUE IN MADHYA PRADESH
The MSP procurement issue has emerged as a major flashpoint in the state.
Earlier this week, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath alleged that despite Madhya Pradesh being the country's largest moong producer, only 2 per cent of the Centre's procurement quota of 4.54 lakh metric tonnes for 2025-26 had been purchased, forcing farmers to sell their produce at throwaway prices.
The protesting farmers are demanding 100 per cent procurement of moong at MSP, resolution of issues with the e-token system, and timely availability of fertilisers.
Despite the announcements, farmer leaders said the government had failed to address all of their demands.
"The government has given us a lollipop. Our demands have not been fully accepted. The agitation will continue," a farmer leader said.
HOW THE PROTESTS BEGAN
The protest began after hundreds of farmers, waving the Tricolour and raising "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" and anti-government slogans, reached Bhopal on Tuesday following a march from Budhni in Sehore district.
They had announced plans to gherao Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's residence but were stopped by police near Veer Savarkar Bridge.
The overnight agitation disrupted traffic on the busy Narmadapuram Road, prompting authorities to divert vehicles, deploy heavy security and declare a holiday for schools in nearby areas.
