Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the Modi government has increased production, reduced input costs, and ensured better prices for farmers through higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and expanded procurement.
Speaking during the question hour in Rajya Sabha, Chouhan said the government’s formula was farmers’ welfare and added that it was in 2019 that the Centre decided to fix MSPs at a minimum of 50 per cent profit over comprehensive cost. The government will now procure 100 per cent of lentils (tur, masoor, and urad), he said.
He contrasted this with the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, which he claimed had argued that a direct 50 per cent increase over cost could distort mandi operations. Chouhan said the Centre has adopted the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations and, in many cases, is paying more than 50 per cent profit over cost.
Procurement before 2014 was limited, he said, and purchases of pulses and oilseeds were “nominal.” The government introduced the PM-AASHA scheme to strengthen MSP operations.
Chouhan criticised several state governments for inadequate procurement, saying farmers face losses when states do not lift committed quantities. He said agencies such as NAFED will buy directly if states underprocure tur, masoor, or urad.
Presenting a comparison of procurement figures, Chouhan said that between 2004 and 2014, the UPA procured 46.89 million metric tonnes of Kharif MSP crops, while the Modi government has procured 81.86 million metric tonnes. Rabi procurement rose from 23.02 million metric tonnes under the UPA to 35.40 million metric tonnes under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Oilseed purchases increased from 4.78 million metric tonnes to 12.8 million metric tonnes, and pulse procurement from 0.6 million metric tonnes to 18.9 million metric tonnes, he said.
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Chouhan said agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and farmers its core strength. He claimed MSPs announced by the Modi government are double those offered in 2013–14; and said both MSP levels and procurement volumes have increased sharply for crops including paddy, millets, pulses, groundnut, sunflower, wheat, barley, chana, and mustard.
Targeting the Opposition, he said MSP crops worth Rs 7.41 lakh crore were procured during the UPA’s decade in power, compared with Rs 24.49 lakh crore under the Modi government.
Citing Karnataka as an example, Chouhan said the state sought approval to procure only 25 per cent of its tur requirement for 2024–25, despite being cleared for 100 per cent procurement. He said the Centre approved 3,06,150 MT, but the state purchased 2,16,303 MT. Chouhan said the government’s commitment to ensuring fair prices for farmers “will be fulfilled under all circumstances."