12 March 2026, New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav in New Delhi on Wednesday to review key agriculture and rural development priorities for the state.
The meeting was attended by Madhya Pradesh Rural Development Minister Prahlad Patel and senior officials from both the Centre and the state government. Discussions covered procurement mechanisms for oilseeds and pulses, implementation of major rural development schemes, and long-term strategies to strengthen agricultural productivity and farmer welfare in Madhya Pradesh.
Approval for Bhavantar Payment on Mustard Procurement
One of the key issues discussed during the meeting was the pending matter related to mustard procurement in the state. The Union Agriculture Minister approved the proposal to provide price deficiency payment under the Bhavantar scheme for mustard procurement in Madhya Pradesh.
Officials were directed to expedite the payment process so that mustard farmers receive timely compensation for the difference between the market price and the government benchmark price. The move is expected to provide relief to mustard growers and help the state government fulfil its commitments to farmers.
Centre Assures 100% Procurement of Pigeon Pea
During the meeting, Chouhan also handed over a formal approval letter to the Chief Minister confirming 100 percent procurement of pigeon pea (tur/arhar) produced in the state.
The decision aims to ensure that farmers cultivating pigeon pea are able to sell their entire produce through government procurement channels, protecting them from potential price volatility in the open market and providing greater income stability.
Review of Agriculture and Farmer Support Programmes
The meeting also included a detailed review of several ongoing agriculture programmes affecting the state. Discussions covered price deficiency payments for mustard and soybean, additional production targets for moong and urad under the National Pulses Mission, implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, soil health initiatives, and pending wage and material payments under MGNREGA.
The Union Minister directed officials to prioritise the resolution of pending cases related to Madhya Pradesh so that farmers, labourers and rural households receive timely benefits from government schemes.
Long-Term Strategy for Pulses and Oilseeds
Both leaders also discussed the need for a long-term strategy to strengthen pulses and oilseed production in Madhya Pradesh, a state that plays a significant role in India’s agricultural output.
Chouhan asked teams from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the state government to jointly develop crop-specific strategies for crops such as moong, urad, chickpea, sesame, mustard and oil palm. The proposed roadmap aims to promote crop diversification while also contributing to India’s goal of increasing domestic production of edible oils.
Improving Crop Insurance Assessment
The discussion also addressed issues related to yield assessment under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Taking into account the experience of farmers in the state, the Union Minister suggested that crop loss assessment should not rely solely on satellite-based estimation, particularly for crops such as soybean. Instead, he recommended combining crop-cutting experiments with remote sensing technologies to ensure more accurate yield estimation and fair insurance claim settlements.
Strengthening MGNREGA Implementation
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of MGNREGA in Madhya Pradesh. The Union Minister highlighted the importance of completing e-KYC verification, ensuring accuracy of job cards, conducting timely social audits, and clearing pending action-taken reports.
Strengthening these processes, he said, would help accelerate rural development activities such as water conservation, infrastructure creation and livelihood generation in villages.
Progress on Rural Housing
Discussions were also held on the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Gramin, with a focus on achieving full coverage of eligible families listed in the 2018 Awas Plus database in Madhya Pradesh.
Officials agreed to address technical challenges related to duplicate job cards and data entry issues so that the remaining eligible households can receive housing approvals at the earliest.
Rural Roads and Infrastructure
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the meeting also examined the need for improvements in rural road quality and design standards.
Considering the state’s requirements, particularly in areas with heavy transport and mining activity, the Union Minister indicated that the state’s proposals regarding road thickness and width would be examined at both technical and financial levels.
Focus on Women’s Livelihoods
The review of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) emphasised expanding economic opportunities for rural women and self-help groups. The Union Minister encouraged the state government to promote micro-enterprises, small processing units and other income-generating activities to strengthen village economies and ensure effective utilisation of available funds.
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