Maharashtra Assembly Uproar: Soybean Payment Controversy Sparks Walkout

Mumbai, Jul 2 (PTI) — On Wednesday, opposition members staged a walkout from the Maharashtra assembly following an uproar over the alleged non-payment to farmers for soybean procurement.

The assembly saw heated exchanges as the opposition raised concerns about irregularities in soybean procurement and delays in payments to farmers.

Congress member Vijay Wadettiwar asserted that soybean growers had not been compensated for their produce.

Cooperation and Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal informed the House that a record amount of soybean had been procured from 562 centers in the state this year. He said, "More than 51,000 farmers sold their produce, and Rs 5,500 crore has been directly transferred to their bank accounts."

However, a controversy emerged from an incident in Akola district's Balapur taluka. The minister stated that the Andura Shetkari Company, a farmer collective, failed to deliver 1,297 quintals of soybean to the warehouse, despite recording it under procurement records. A criminal case has been filed against the company's head, and Rs 36 lakh has been withheld pending investigation.

Rawal assured that efforts are underway to ensure payments are made to the farmers impacted by this discrepancy.

The original question was posed by MLA Daulat Daroda, with supplementary questions from Hemant Ogle, Randhir Savarkar, Nana Patole, Rohit Pawar, Kailas Patil, and Jayant Patil. Dissatisfied with the minister's response, the opposition members exited the House in protest.