Soybean purchase extended by 15 days in Maharashtra

Maharashtra CM Fadnavis establishes soybean procurement mechanism, extends deadline, emphasizes agro hubs, onion storage, and market committee reclassification.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday (January 13, 2025) directed the establishment of a permanent mechanism for soybean procurement to ensure uninterrupted operations annually. These instructions were issued during a review meeting of the Marketing Department’s 100-day progress in Mumbai.

The government also extended the deadline for Soybean procurement by 15 days. Mr. Fadnavis requested Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the phone.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister stressed the need to develop agro hubs along the Samruddhi Expressway as part of the Magnet Project. “These hubs should be equipped with all necessary facilities,” he said, directing officials to present a detailed plan for implementation.

Preparations for soybean procurement, starting in November, should be completed by October, including farmer registrations, he stated. “The permanent framework must have clear guidelines and adequate facilities to avoid any disruptions in soybean procurement,” Mr. Fadnavis said. He also instructed the department to submit proposals for establishing agro-logistics hubs in all four regions of the State.

Highlighting the importance of onion storage, the Chief Minister added, “Onion storage units are an effective solution for preservation, and their numbers should be increased. Subsidies for these units must also be enhanced to meet demand.”

Additional Chief Secretary of the Marketing Department, Rajgopal Deora, announced plans to develop an international-standard Maha Bazaar in Navi Mumbai. Spanning 200-250 acres, the project aims to set a new benchmark for agricultural markets in the State. Furthermore, one market committee will be established in each taluka, catering to specific regional needs, such as fish markets in the Konkan region and local produce markets in tribal areas, said Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal.

Mr. Rawal also announced a reclassification of market committees based on income brackets: ₹1-2.5 crore, ₹2.5-5 crore, ₹5-10 crore, and ₹10-25 crore. Additionally, he revealed that an agro hub in Jabhurgaon, located in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district, is ready for inauguration within 45 days.