DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Union government has increased the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all 22 mandated agricultural crops in the country by Rs 432 to Rs2400 with a hike of up to 35 per cent in the past five years on the basis of the recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare informed Parliament during the on-going Winter Session of the House.

This was stated by Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ram Nath Thakur, in a reply to the question of Member Parliament Rajya Sabha Satnam Singh Sandhu on the MSP paid to farmers in Punjab.

Member Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu had raised the question of the MSP rates entitled to farmers during last five years and steps taken by the Government to revise MSP rates from time to time. He further asked the government about the details of procurement of crops from Punjab farmers during last five years.

Sharing season-wise and crop-wise data about the Minimum Support Prices entitled to farmers of the country including Punjab during last five year since 2020-21, Thakur said every year Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated agricultural crops, which includes 14 Kharif drops, 6 Rabi Crops and 2 commercial crops, in the country on the basis of the recommendations ofCommission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP), after considering the views of State Governments and concerned Central Ministries and Departments concerned.

"While recommending MSP, CACP considers important factors like cost of production, overall demand-supply conditions, domesticand international prices, intercrop price parity, terms of trade between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, likely effect on the rest of the economy, besides ensuring rational utilization ofland, water and other production resources and a minimum of 50 percent as the margin over cost of production," the Union Minister said.

According to the data shared by the Union government, MSP for 22 mandated agricultural crops in the country increased by 11.50 per cent to over 35 per cent in the past five years.

While the MSP for the 14 Kharif crops was increased by about 20 per cent to over 35 per cent, the MSP for 6 Rabi crops was increased by the Union government by 11.50 per cent to over 31.37 per cent. The MSP for two commercial crops, Copra (Milling) and Copra (Bali), was increased by 12.04 and 16.50 per cent respectively.

The MSP formain Kharif crop Paddy (common) was increased by Rs 432, from Rs 1,868 in 2020-21 to Rs 2300 in 2024-25, which shows an increase of over 23 per cent in the MSP during the past five years. The MSP for Paddy (Grade A) was also increased by Rs 432, from Rs 1888 in 2020-21 to Rs 2320 in 2024-25, in increase of 22.88 per cent in last five years. For four Kharif crops Jowar, Bajra, Maize and Ragi, the MSP was increased by 20 to 30 per cent during the last five years.

The MSP formain Rabi crop, Wheat was increased by Rs 450 from 1975 in 2021-22 to Rs 2425 in 2025-26, in increase of 22.78 per cent in past five years.

(editor@dailyworld.in)