Maharashtra polls: Centre allows procurement of soybean with moisture content up to 15% to woo farmers

In a big political move, the Centre has allowed one-time procurement of soybean crops with up to 15 percent moisture content for the Kharif season 2024-25 to placate farmers of the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of the state.

Maharashtra Assembly election will take place in a single phase on November 20.

However, this is a one-time move and all the losses incurred due to the procurement will have to be borne out by the respective state governments, a notification issued on November 17 said.

This move is in addition to a subsidy announced by the Maharashtra state government in September for cotton and soybean farmers. The state had disbursed Rs 2,399 crore to cotton and soybean growers under a new scheme that provides a Rs 5,000 per hectare subsidy to farmers.