Govt hikes wheat MSP by Rs 40 to Rs 2,015 per quintal; says support price system will continue

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday hiked the minimum support price for wheat by Rs 40 to Rs 2,015 per quintal to boost production as well as farmers’ income and asserted that the system of purchasing crops at support prices will continue.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for six rabi (winter-sown) crops grown in 2021-22 crop year (July-June) and traded in Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2022-23.
In a tweet, the prime minister said the government has taken another big decision in the interest of farmers by increasing the MSPs of rabi crops.
He said the increased MSPs would ensure remunerative prices to farmers and also encourage them for sowing operations.
According to an official statement, wheat MSP has been raised by Rs 40 to Rs 2,015 per quintal. The cost of production of wheat is estimated at Rs 1,008 per quintal.
The support price for barley has been hiked by Rs 35 to Rs 1,635 per quintal for the 2021-22 crop year from Rs 1,600 per quintal in the previous year.
Among pulses, the MSP for gram has been increased by Rs 130 to Rs 5,230 per quintal from Rs 5,100 per quintal while that for lentil (masur) has been hiked by Rs 400 to Rs 5,500 per quintal from Rs 5,100 per quintal.
In the case of oilseeds, the government has increased the MSP for mustard seed by Rs 400 to Rs 5,050 per quintal for the 2021-22 crop year from Rs 4,650 per quintal in the previous year. Safflower MSP has been raised by Rs 114 to Rs 5,441 per quintal from Rs 5,327 per quintal.
MSP is the rate at which the government buys the grain from farmers. Currently, the government fixes MSPs for 23 crops grown in both kharif and rabi seasons.
Sowing of rabi (winter) crops begins from October immediately after the harvest of kharif (summer) crops. Wheat and mustard are major rabi crops.
Commenting on the CCEA decision, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said “some people try to create confusion that MSP system will end but the prime minister is committed and will always remain committed toward farmers’ cause. The prime minister has assured that MSP system will remain as it was earlier”.
In a video message posted on Twitter, the minister said that even after the enactment of the three new farm laws, the MSPs, production and procurement have increased. “No one should have any doubt on this”. —PTI

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