Siddaramaiah writes to PM Modi urging immediate MSP procurement for Toor Dal

Bengaluru

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising urgent concerns over delays in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement of Toor Dal and warning of potential financial distress for farmers.

In his letter, Siddaramaiah highlighted that Toor Dal has been sown across approximately 16.80 lakh hectares in Karnataka during the 2025–26 Kharif season, with an expected production exceeding 12.60 lakh metric tonnes. He emphasized that the crop is the primary source of income for farmers in key districts including Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Bidar, Raichur, Vijayapura, Koppal, Belagavi, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Bagalkote, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, and Chitradurga.

The Chief Minister pointed out a widening gap between market prices and the MSP. Current market rates for Toor Dal range between ₹5,830 and ₹6,700 per quintal, while the MSP for the season has been set at nearly ₹8,000 per quintal. With peak arrivals expected between December 2025 and January 2026, Siddaramaiah expressed concern that procurement centres will open only in February and March, risking income losses and financial distress for farmers.

The letter noted that Karnataka had submitted a formal proposal to the Union Government on 6th November 2025 seeking immediate MSP-based procurement through NAFED and NCCF, but no response has yet been received. Siddaramaiah warned that continued delays could erode farmer confidence in public institutions, trigger distress sales, and potentially lead to unrest.

He urged the Union Government to immediately approve MSP procurement and ensure operational deployment across Karnataka’s major procurement centres before peak arrivals, describing the decision as a “moral test” of the nation’s commitment to farmers and food security.