Targets not met, Centre extends deadline to procure soybean from Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Telangana

Union Agriculture Ministry extends soybean procurement deadline for Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Telangana, with increased targets and state cooperation emphasized.

The Union Agriculture Ministry has decided to extend the deadline, which ended on Sunday (January 12, 2025), to procure soybeans from Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Telangana. Announcing the decision, Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said while procurement in Maharashtra would take place till January 31, the new deadline for Rajasthan was February 4.

Both States had requested an extension. “Telangana had also requested to extend the deadline and we have approved it,” the Minister said, adding that the Centre would additionally procure 25,000 tonnes of soybean from Telangana; the initial target had been 59,508 tonnes.

The procurement of soybean from all States so far has been 13.68 lakh tonnes, against the target of 33.60 lakh tonnes, the Minister said. When asked about the decrease in procurement, he said the State governments were responsible for making procurement arrangements. “We will consider extension of the procurement deadline from other States if we receive a request,” he added.

Mr. Chouhan also held a review meeting with senior officials of his Ministry on agriculture issues. “Several issues related to the farm produce, marketing of agri products including the import and export of the produce and weather conditions figured in the review meeting,” a government release said.

Quoting the Minister, the release added that Mr. Chouhan would periodically hold meetings with the State governments at the Agriculture Ministers level. “He wanted even the officials to consistently engage with the State Governments on these issues, as addressing the issues at ground level would require involvement of the State Governments officials,” the release said.