Bihar Agriculture Minister Ram Kripal Yadav met Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on April 1, 2026. The state has requested a special agriculture development package to boost farmer income and improve infrastructure. During this meeting, the discussion focused on increasing the procurement of pulses and oilseeds at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The Union Minister assured that the central government is ready to support Bihar and will consider the special package for the state.
Guidelines for Masoor procurement and MSP rates
The state government has finalized the plan for Masoor (lentil) procurement for the upcoming season. This will help farmers sell their crops directly to government agencies without any hassle. The official data for this procurement is as follows:
| Detail | Official Information |
|---|---|
| Procurement Dates | April 10 to May 31, 2026 |
| MSP for Masoor | ₹7,000 per quintal |
| Procurement Target | 32,000 Tonnes |
| Maximum Purchase | 40 Quintals per farmer |
| Payment Time | Within 48 hours of verification |
Fertilizer availability and infrastructure demands
Apart from procurement, the Bihar government highlighted the need for more central assistance under the National Agriculture Development Scheme and the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission. Currently, over 47 lakh farmers in Bihar are registered on the digital portal. The state also provided data on fertilizer stocks available as of April 1, 2026, to ensure there is no shortage during the sowing season.
- Urea: 2.77 lakh metric tonnes
- DAP: 1.46 lakh metric tonnes
- NPK: 2.11 lakh metric tonnes
- MOP: 0.43 lakh metric tonnes
- SSP: 1.02 lakh metric tonnes
The procurement will be managed through PACS and Vyapar Mandals. The state has also requested the central government to start MSP-based procurement for Gram (Chana) and Mustard to further support oilseed and pulse production in the region.
