UP Farmers Get MSP Relief As Yogi Govt Announces Higher Rabi Crop Rates, Full Rate List Here

The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has announced a major relief package for farmers by declaring the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for key rabi pulses and oilseed crops for the 2026-27 marketing year. Procurement rates for gram, lentil, mustard and arhar have all been increased compared to last year, with the state describing the move as a strong support system for cultivators ahead of the new procurement season.

On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi addressed a press conference and unveiled the government's procurement action plan for pulses and oilseeds. Along with the revised MSP rates, the minister also shared procurement targets and operational details, describing the decision as a major boost for farmers. He said the increase in rates has been made with support from the Centre and called it a "protective shield" for cultivators.

Higher MSP Announced for Chana, Masoor, Mustard and Arhar

The state government has revised the MSP upward for several major rabi crops this season. Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said the support prices have been increased in coordination with the central government to ensure better returns for farmers.

According to the announcement, gram (chana) will now be procured at Rs 5,875 per quintal, which is Rs 225 higher than last year. Lentil (masoor) has seen a sharper rise of Rs 300, taking its MSP to Rs 7,000 per quintal. Mustard (sarson) has been fixed at Rs 6,200 per quintal, up by Rs 250 from the previous season. For arhar, farmers will receive a remunerative price of Rs 8,000 per quintal.

The minister said the government has ensured that the revised prices offer better protection to farmers in a season when input costs and market uncertainty continue to remain important concerns.

Procurement to Continue for 90 Days Across Uttar Pradesh

The government has also laid out a detailed procurement schedule for the rabi marketing year 2026-27. Procurement of pulses and oilseeds in Uttar Pradesh will begin on 2 April 2026 and continue till 30 June 2026, covering a total period of 90 days.

This year, the state has fixed ambitious procurement targets for major crops. The biggest focus will be on masoor, where the government plans to procure 6.77 lakh metric tonnes, which officials said accounts for 100 per cent of total production. For mustard, the target has been set at 5.30 lakh metric tonnes. The government will also procure 2.24 lakh metric tonnes of chana and 1.14 lakh metric tonnes of arhar.

The expanded procurement plan underlines a stronger intervention by the state in the pulses and oilseeds market, aimed at stabilising prices and ensuring farmers are not forced to sell below MSP.

Aadhaar-Enabled System to Keep Procurement Transparent

Highlighting the procurement mechanism, Surya Pratap Shahi said earlier governments had not given enough attention to pulses and oilseed purchases, but the Yogi government has made it a priority area.

To ensure that only genuine farmers benefit and to prevent middlemen from entering the system, the government has introduced an Aadhaar-enabled purchase framework. Every procurement centre will be equipped with Aadhaar-enabled PoS (Point of Sale) machines for farmer verification.

Payments for produce will be transferred directly to farmers through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The government believes this digital process will improve transparency, reduce leakages and make the procurement system more efficient and farmer-friendly.

Six Agencies and More Than 190 Procurement Centres to Handle Purchases

To carry out the large-scale procurement operation smoothly, the state has deployed a combination of central and state-level agencies. Two central agencies, NAFED and NCCF, will participate in the procurement process, along with four state agencies, UPPCU, UPPCF, JAFED and UPSS.

Officials said a proposal has been made to open 190 procurement centres this year for direct purchases through NAFED and NCCF, while state agencies will also run their own centres in different districts.

The government noted that more than 20,000 farmers benefited from the scheme last year. This time, the administration is aiming to expand the reach further and ensure that a larger number of cultivators receive the benefits of higher MSP and direct government procurement.