Around 2,000 farmers marched to the outskirts of Bhopal on Tuesday after breaching police barricades, escalating a dispute over Indian government’s crop procurement and fertiliser distribution into one of the biggest political challenges faced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh in recent times, reports The Indian Express.
The protesters, representing 19 farmers’ organisations under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), carried sacks of grain, rolled-up bedding, cooking utensils and enough food to last a week as they advanced towards the state capital.
The farmers said they would continue their protest until the state government agrees to procure 100 per cent of Madhya Pradesh’s moong (lentils) crop and resolves their long-standing concerns over fertiliser distribution.
“We have been mobilising for over 20 days now. We had no option but to protest after we did not hear from the government despite sending multiple representations to the government. The farmers are unable to get a profitable rate for the sale of their moong produce, and we have no option but to go to the CM’s residence,” farmer leader Santosh Patwari told the newspaper.
Farmer leaders said that although the Union government has announced 100 per cent procurement at the minimum support price (MSP) for tur, urad and masur, moong procurement remains under the Price Support Scheme. Under the scheme, procurement is restricted to 25 per cent of a state’s estimated production.
They argued that the procurement cap forces farmers to sell a significant portion of their moong harvest in the open market, where prices remain well below the MSP of Rs 8,768 per quintal for the 2026-27 season.
Farmers’ organisations also accused the Madhya Pradesh government of attempting to stop supporters from reaching Bhopal by setting up barricades. The state administration denied the allegation.
“The last point of the protest will be maintained at Hoshangabad, and we are constantly talking to the farmers to address their demands in a peaceful manner. There are all facilities here, and we have proper force to manage the situation.”
