Centre Extends MSP Procurement Deadline in UP to Jul 8, Approves Over 6.18 Lakh Rural Houses

The Centre has extended the minimum support price procurement period for wheat, gram and lentil in Uttar Pradesh till July 8 and approved more than 6.18 lakh houses under the next phase of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, according to an official statement released on Thursday.

The decisions were conveyed by Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a review meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Yojana Bhawan in Lucknow, the statement added.

Chouhan handed over approval letters extending minimum support price (MSP) procurement for the rabi marketing year 2026-27 and sanctioning rural housing units under the new phase of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).

According to the statement, the procurement period for wheat, gram and lentil has been extended from June 24 to July 8 to ensure that farmers are not deprived of selling their produce at MSP due to weather conditions, delays in weighing or congestion in mandis.

The Union minister said Uttar Pradesh accounts for nearly 38 per cent of the country's wheat production and plays a key role in ensuring India's food security and enhancing farmers' incomes.

The Centre and state government are jointly preparing a scientific and long-term agricultural roadmap for Uttar Pradesh, covering crop patterns, irrigation, water conservation, seeds, technology and marketing, he added.

Referring to concerns over El Nino conditions, below-normal rainfall and declining groundwater levels, Chouhan said district-wise contingency plans would be prepared to promote short-duration and low-water-consuming crops. Alternative crop options would be identified based on local soil conditions, water availability and existing farming patterns.

On rural housing, the minister said 6,18,482 houses have been approved for Uttar Pradesh under the new phase of PMAY-G for the period 2024-25 to 2028-29.

The approval forms part of the Centre's nationwide target of constructing two crore additional pucca houses under the scheme, the statement said.

Chouhan said surveys of rural households in Uttar Pradesh have been completed, and eligible beneficiaries living in kutcha houses have been identified.

He assured full financial and technical support from the Centre and stressed the need for timely construction, quality control and transparency in implementation.

Deputy Chief Minister and Rural Development Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi and senior officials of the Centre and state government were present at the meeting, the statement added.