Maharashtra to set up permanent mechanism for soyabean procurement
Maharashtra will establish a permanent mechanism to ensure hassle-free procurement of soyabeans from farmers every year. State Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued directions to the State’s marketing department in this regard on Monday.
He stressed that preparations for the procurement process, which begins in November, should be completed by October, including the registration of farmers.
Fadnavis was speaking at a review meeting held at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai, where he assessed the 100-day action plan of the marketing department. He stressed the need to set up Agro Hubs along the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway under the Maharashtra Agri Network (Magnet) Project, with all necessary infrastructure in place. He instructed officials to prepare a detailed plan for these hubs and submit it at the earliest.
More onion storages
The Chief Minister further stressed the importance of setting clear criteria for the permanent procurement system and ensuring all facilities are in place so that soyabean procurement can continue without any disruptions. He also called for proposals to establish Agro-Logistic Hubs in all four divisions of the State.
Recognising the high demand for onion storage, Fadnavis suggested increasing the number of storage structures, commonly known as Kanda Chaal. He said these structures are an effective option for storing onions and should be made more widely available to farmers.
Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal announced plans to set up market committees in the Konkan region for fish and in tribal areas for local produce, in line with the government’s goal of improving market access for farmers and local communities.
During the presentation, Rajgopal Deora, Additional Chief Secretary of the marketing department, shared that plans are underway to set up an international-standard Mega Market in Navi Mumbai. This Mahabazaar will cover an area of 200 to 250 acres and provide a global platform for agricultural trade.
Deora also highlighted the department’s plan to establish one market committee in each taluka across the State. Existing market committees with annual revenues exceeding ₹1 crore will be categorised into four sub-groups based on their income: ₹1-2.5 crore, ₹2.5-5 crore, ₹5-10 crore, and ₹10-25 crore.
He also informed that the Agro Hub at Jabhurgaon in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District has been completed, and the inauguration is scheduled to take place within the next 45 days.