New Delhi: Giving a major boost to farmers, the union cabinet approved a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved an increase in the MSPs for Kharif crops in the 2019-20 season.
Rain deficit this year has drastically affected the Kharif crops. The Government said that the MSP hike is in line with giving farmers 1.5 times the cost of production. The highest percentage return to farmers over their cost of production is for bajra (85%) followed by urad (64%) and tur (60%).
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Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that MSP of Paddy was increased by ₹65 per quintal, Jowar by ₹120 per quintal, Ragi by ₹253 per quintal, and Bajra by ₹90 among others.
Tomar added that higher MSP would increase investment and production. “We are determined to double the income of farmers. The increased prices will help in improving the financial condition of farmers,” he said to the Economic Times.
The support price of common variety paddy rises from ₹1,750 a quintal to ₹1,815. Meanwhile, higher quality ‘Grade A’ variety rises from ₹1,770 to ₹1,835 a quintal as reported by ET on Tuesday.
Several farmers’ organisations hailed the move by Narendra Modi-led government. They said that the MSP hike for Kharif crops will lead to increased investment and production through assured remunerative prices to the farmers.
Ms Kalinga