Amid falling market prices of cotton, soybean, and maize, the Maharashtra government has intensified procurement operations through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India and National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India to safeguard farmers’ interests.
Responding to a query raised by MLA Sanjay Meshram, Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal acknowledged that price fluctuations have been partially observed in the state’s sensitive agricultural markets.
To stabilise soybean prices, NAFED and NCCF jointly procured 6.02 lakh metric tonnes from 2.38 lakh farmers between November 15, 2025, and February 12, 2026, under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme. Both agencies also operationalised as many as 934 procurement centres across the state.
The government has sought an extension of the soybean procurement period to further support farmers affected by price drops. Officials said the MSP mechanism remains a key safeguard to ensure farmers are protected from market volatility and receive remunerative prices for their produce.
The move highlights the growing role of cooperative institutions in stabilising agri-markets and preventing financial distress among farmers.
