Government Hikes Minimum Support Price For Key Kharif Crops
The Govt. of India has decided to increase the minimum support prices of Kharif crops for the current year to provide relief to the farmers amid disruptions caused by the COVID-19. After a cabinet meeting on Monday, Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar said the government has decided to revise the minimum support prices for 14 Kharif crops.
Under new MSPs, the expected returns to farmers over their cost of production are estimated for these 14 Kharif crops ranges from 50% to 83%.
| Commodity | FY19 | FY20 | FY20 % Increase | FY21 | FY21 % Increase |
| Bajra | 1,950 | 2,000 | 2.56 | 2,150 | 7.5 |
| Cotton (Long Staple) | 5,450 | 5,550 | 1.83 | 5,825 | 4.95 |
| Cotton (Medium Staple) | 5,150 | 5,255 | 2.04 | 5,515 | 4.95 |
| Groundnut | 4,890 | 5,090 | 4.09 | 5,275 | 3.63 |
| Jowar Hybrid | 2,430 | 2,550 | 4.94 | 2,620 | 2.75 |
| Jowar Maldandi | 2,450 | 2,570 | 4.9 | 2,640 | 2.72 |
| Maize (Corn) | 1,700 | 1,760 | 3.53 | 1,850 | 5.11 |
| Moong | 6,975 | 7,050 | 1.08 | 7,196 | 2.07 |
| Nigerseed | 5,877 | 5,940 | 1.07 | 6,695 | 12.71 |
| Paddy (Dhan) Common | 1,750 | 1,815 | 3.71 | 1,868 | 2.92 |
| Paddy Dhan (Grade A) | 1,770 | 1,835 | 3.67 | 1,888 | 2.89 |
| Ragi | 2,897 | 3,150 | 8.73 | 3,295 | 4.6 |
| Sesamum (Sesame, Gingelly, Til) | 6,249 | 6,485 | 3.78 | 6,855 | 5.71 |
| Soyabean | 3,399 | 3,710 | 9.15 | 3,880 | 4.58 |
| Sunflower | 5,388 | 5,650 | 4.86 | 5,885 | 4.16 |
| Tur and Tur Split | 5,675 | 5,800 | 2.2 | 6,000 | 3.45 |
| Urad | 5,600 | 5,700 | 1.79 | 6,000 | 5.26 |
The new MSPs were approved by the Union Cabinet. Besides, these Center also approved the extension of repayment date for short-term loans for agriculture and allied activities from May 31 to August 31. The Centre had earlier extended this deadline from March 31 to May 31.