Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sent an urgent letter to the central government. He wants immediate action to stop the severe price collapse of Bengal gram in the state. This marks the fourth time in just three months that Karnataka has appealed to New Delhi for help with crop procurement issues.
Farmers Forced to Sell Below MSP
Siddaramaiah wrote directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He highlighted a critical situation. The Minimum Support Price for Bengal gram stands at Rs 5,875 per quintal. However, current market prices are much lower.
At Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees, prices range from just Rs 4,260 to Rs 5,813 per quintal. The Chief Minister stated this clearly. In many markets, farmers face terrible pressure. They are selling their produce for Rs 800 to Rs 1,200 below the promised MSP. This is happening even before the main harvest season has fully begun.
A Looming Crisis During Peak Harvest
The timing makes this problem especially urgent. The harvest of Bengal gram intensifies between January and March. Siddaramaiah expressed genuine fear. He warned of a further price collapse that could worsen rural distress across Karnataka.
"This price erosion is not merely a market aberration," Siddaramaiah emphasized in his letter. "It is a human crisis." The falling prices threaten the livelihoods of thousands of farming families.
Karnataka's Specific Demands to the Centre
The state government has made concrete requests to address the emergency:
- Immediate approval for procuring Bengal gram under the Price Support Scheme.
- Direct orders to central agencies like the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India.
- Operational procurement centers set up across Karnataka without delay.
Bengal gram cultivation is significant in Karnataka. Farmers grow the crop in 14 out of the state's 31 districts. It covers a vast area of 9.24 lakh hectares, making this price crash a major economic issue.
A Pattern of Procurement Appeals
This letter is part of a worrying trend. It represents the fourth formal petition from Karnataka to the Centre in three months. Each appeal focuses on falling crop prices and procurement problems.
The series of appeals began in November. Following unrest among sugarcane farmers, the state submitted a memorandum. It argued that sugarcane pricing issues stemmed from central policy decisions.
Weeks later, Siddaramaiah urged the Centre to procure maize and green gram. He sought to resolve a crisis caused by a steep crash in their market prices.
In early December, the Chief Minister sent another letter. He highlighted serious delays in approving MSP procurement for toor dal, adding to the growing list of concerns.
The repeated appeals underscore a persistent struggle. Karnataka's agricultural sector faces continuous price instability. The state government is pushing hard for federal intervention to protect its farmers from financial ruin.
