Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for six rabi crops for 2023-24. The decision has come ahead of the elections in BJP-ruled Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
The government increased the MSP to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce. “The absolute highest increase in MSP has been approved for lentil (masur) at Rs 500 per quintal followed by rapeseed and mustard at Rs 400 per quintal. For safflower, an increase of Rs 209 per quintal has been approved. For wheat, gram and barley, an increase of Rs 110 per quintal, Rs 100 per quintal respectively has been approved.
Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur said, “The increase in MSP for rabi c crops for marketing season 2023-24 is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times of the all-India weighted average cost of production, aiming at reasonably fair remuneration for the farmers. The maximum rate of return is 104 per cent for rapeseed and mustard, followed by 100 per cent for wheat, 85 per cent for lentil; 66 per cent for gram; 60 per cent for barley; and 50 per cent for safflower.”
The government said that since the year 2014-15, there has been a renewed focus on increasing the production of oilseeds and pulses. The oilseeds production has increased from 27.51 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 37.70 million tonnes in 2021-22. Pulses production has also shown a similar increasing trend. The seed mini-kits programme is a major tool for introducing new varieties of seeds in the farmers’ fields and is instrumental for increasing the seed replacement rate.
“The government’s priority is on increasing production of oilseeds and pulses and thus fulfilling the objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” Thakur said.
