In a significant ruling on May 30, 2025, the Karnataka High Court directed the state government to establish at least one procurement center in each taluka for two months beyond the procurement period fixed by the Government of India. This decision aims to prevent farmers from being compelled into distress sales due to the unavailability of procurement facilities.

The court emphasized that the traditional harvesting seasons no longer align with current crop cycles, leading to situations where farmers have no choice but to sell their produce at lower prices to middlemen. To address this, the court mandated the state to operate procurement centers beyond the standard period, ensuring farmers can sell their crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and avoid exploitation.

This directive follows a public interest litigation filed by Rait Sena Karnataka, a registered society advocating for the establishment of year-round procurement centers to support farmers. The court’s decision underscores the state’s responsibility to protect the economic interests of its agricultural community and uphold the constitutional right to equality.

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