Govt announces increase in MSPs for six Rabi crops

Union Government has announced increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all mandated Rabi crops. The decision was taken in the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs held yesterday under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, in his statement made in the Lok Sabha informed that the MSP of six Rabi crops including Wheat, Chana, Masoor, Mustard, Jowar and Safflower has been hiked in the range of 50 to 300 rupees.

He informed that the MSP of wheat has been increased by 50 rupees and now stands at one thousand 975 rupees per quintal whereas the MSP for Masoor has been hiked by 300 rupees. MSP for Mustard and Chana has been increased by 225 rupees. Increase in Jowar's MSP is by 75 rupees while for Safflower the hike is by 112 rupees per quintal.

 

Mr. Tomar informed that the government paid nearly seven lakh crore rupees to the farmers as part of MSP payment in the last six years which is almost double the amount that was paid from 2009 to 2014 under the UPA Government's tenure. The Minister said, the hike which is in consonance with the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission's report reflects the current government’s commitment towards Minimum Support Price and procurement of agri products in the



country.

He reiterated that the recently passed farm bills in the Parliament do not impact MSP or provisions of APMC Act in any way. Mr. Tomar also appealed to the farmers not to fall prey to the false or misleading political tactics of the opposition parties.

 

Agriculture Ministry has said that Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other designated state agencies would continue to provide price support to the farmers. It said, government has set up a buffer stock of pulses and domestic procurement of pulses is also being done under Price Stabilization Fund.

The Ministry informed that despite global COVID-19 pandemic and consequent nationwide lockdown, timely intervention made by government has led to an all-time record procurement of wheat in the country. Around 43 lakh farmers have benefited under the procurement operations this year which is 22 per cent higher than the

 

Government has also increased the procurement centres for wheat by 1.5 times and for pulses and oilseeds by three times during the COVID pandemic. Agriculture Ministry has informed that 15 per cent more procurement of wheat has been done during these testing times along with disbursal of nearly 75 thousand crore rupees to the farmers.