The Karnataka State government has ordered the procurement of sunflower seeds for the 2025-26 rabi season at a support price of ₹7,721 per quintal under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) .
The decision, announced on May 8, 2026, will benefit sunflower farmers across 11 districts of the state.
Key Announcement at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Commodity | Sunflower seeds |
| Support price | ₹7,721 per quintal |
| Season | Rabi 2025-26 |
| Number of districts | 11 |
| Registration window | 50 days |
| Procurement window | 60 days (after registration) |
The 11 Districts Covered
| District List |
|---|
| Bagalkot |
| Belagavi |
| Ballari |
| Vijayapura |
| Chamarajanagar |
| Chitradurga |
| Gadag |
| Kalaburagi |
| Vijayanagara |
| Raichur |
| Dharwad |
These districts will have procurement centres opened for sunflower farmers.
Ministers and Officials Involved
Shivanand Patil — Sugar, Textiles and Agricultural Marketing Minister — has directed authorities to open procurement centres in accordance with the Union government’s support price guidelines.
His Directives to Officials
| Directive | Detail |
|---|---|
| Open procurement centres | In all 11 identified districts |
| Early preparations | Ensure no issues during registration and procurement |
| Prevent misuse | Ensure traders and agencies do not misuse support price centres in the name of farmers |
| Daily progress reporting | Provide details to State government and Karnataka State Agricultural Marketing Board |
Procurement Agencies
| Agency | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|
| NAFED | Procurement agency | Union government |
| NCCF | Procurement agency | Union government |
| Karnataka Cooperative Oilseed Growers’ Federation | Procurement agency | State government |
NAFED = National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India
NCCF = National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd.
Timeline for Farmers
| Step | Duration | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Registration | Next 50 days | Farmers must complete registration |
| 2. Procurement | Following 60 days | Procurement will be carried out |
Deputy commissioners (District Task Force Committee heads) have been instructed to begin the registration and procurement process immediately.
Procurement Centres: Logistical Details
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Rural areas, in collaboration with organizations |
| Warehouse requirement | Equipped with necessary technical and scientific facilities |
| Oversight | Deputy commissioners (District Task Force Committees) |
Government’s Message to Farmers
Minister Shivanand Patil said:
“Preparations should begin early to ensure there are no issues during registration and procurement.”
On Preventing Misuse:
Officials have been directed to ensure that traders and procurement agencies do not misuse the support price procurement centres in the name of farmers.
On Transparency:
Officials have been asked to provide details of the procurement progress daily to the State government and the Karnataka State Agricultural Marketing Board.
Context: Central Government Announcement (May 5, 2026)
This state-level implementation follows the Union Cabinet’s May 5, 2026 decision to procure sunflower at MSP in Karnataka.
| Central Decision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 9,023 metric tonnes of sunflower |
| State | Karnataka |
| Season | Rabi 2026 |
| MSP value | Over ₹69.66 crore |
The state government’s May 8 announcement provides the operational details — the how, when, and where of the procurement.
Why This Matters for Sunflower Farmers
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Guaranteed price | ₹7,721 per quintal — no market fluctuation risk |
| Government backing | Both central and state agencies involved |
| Wide coverage | 11 districts with procurement centres |
| Window for registration | 50 days — sufficient time for farmers |
| Daily monitoring | Officials must report progress daily |
| Anti-misuse measures | Explicit instructions to prevent trader exploitation |
Summary Table: Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Announcement date | May 8, 2026 |
| Support price | ₹7,721 per quintal |
| Season | Rabi 2025-26 |
| Districts | 11 (Bagalkot, Belagavi, Ballari, Vijayapura, Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Vijayanagara, Raichur, Dharwad) |
| Central agencies | NAFED, NCCF |
| State agency | Karnataka Cooperative Oilseed Growers’ Federation |
| Registration | 50 days |
| Procurement | Following 60 days |
| Minister | Shivanand Patil |
Relief for Sunflower Farmers in Karnataka
With this announcement, sunflower farmers in 11 districts of Karnataka can now plan their harvest with confidence.
The ₹7,721 per quintal support price ensures they will not be at the mercy of market fluctuations. The involvement of both central agencies (NAFED, NCCF) and a state agency provides multiple procurement channels.
Key to success will be:
- Timely registration (50-day window)
- Smooth opening of centres (with proper warehouse facilities)
- Prevention of misuse (trader exploitation)
- Daily monitoring (transparency)
For the farmers of Bagalkot, Belagavi, Ballari, and the eight other districts, the message is clear: register within 50 days, and your sunflower crop will be procured at a fair price.
