In a significant move aimed at addressing the concerns of tur dal farmers in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the “grave urgency” regarding their economic survival on Tuesday.
The letter comes amidst ongoing protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka against the state government in Belagavi, accusing it of failing to protect farmers’ interests, particularly concerning the prices of sugarcane, maize, and tur dal.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, CM Siddaramaiah has cautioned that procedural delays by the Union Government in approving tur dal procurement are placing farmers under “avoidable and unjustifiable risk.”
Karnataka is expecting a strong harvest this season, with over 12.60 lakh metric tonnes of tur dal grown across 16.80 lakh hectares. However, the CM noted that current market prices remain far below the MSP of nearly ₹8,000 per quintal, pushing farmers toward a potential income crisis.
The situation has worsened as the Union Government plans to open procurement centres only in February–March, even though peak arrivals will hit markets between December and January. Siddaramaiah warned that this delay is driving farmers toward distress sales, mounting debt, and lasting financial setbacks.
He reminded the Prime Minister that Karnataka had already submitted a proposal on November 6, 2025, seeking immediate MSP procurement through NAFED and NCCF, yet no approval has been issued so far.
Urging quick intervention, the CM called for immediate approval and early deployment of procurement agencies across major centres, stressing that the issue is not just economic but “a question of trust between farmers and the State.”
