New Delhi: In a major boost to farmers' income, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has on Wednesday approved an increase in minimum support prices (MSPs) for all Kharif crops for 2019-20 season, a move that will lead to increased investment
and production through assured remunerative prices to the farmers.
The government has raised the MSP of paddy, a key kharif crop, by 3.7 per cent to Rs 1,815 per quintal for the 2019-20 crop season. The MSP for paddy has been increased by Rs 65 per quintal, while the MSP of jowar increased by Rs 120 per quintal and ragi by Rs 253 per quintal.
"The MSP of tur, moong and urad pulses also have been raised by Rs 215, Rs 75 and Rs 100, respectively, for the 2019-20 crop season. The MSP of soyabean has been hiked by Rs 311 per quintal, sunflower by Rs 262 per quintal and sesamum by Rs 236 per quintal," Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, adding that the rise in the MSP of kharif crops would motivate farmers for cultivation and consumption of nutrient-cereals.
According to the Union Agriculture Minister, the increase in the MSP prices would help in addressing the issues related to the requirement of pulses in view of the need to meet the nutritional security and protein requirements of a large section of the population.
Besides, India celebrated 2018 as the National Year of Millets and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Council has approved India's proposal to observe an International Year of Millets in 2023.
For cotton (medium staple) and cotton (long staple), the MSP has been increased by Rs 105 per quintal and Rs 100 per quintal.
The highest percentage return to farmers over their cost of production is for bajra (85 per cent) followed by urad (64 per cent) and tur (60 per cent), according to an official statement.
In the case of cereals, including nutri-cereals, Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other designated state agencies would continue to provide price support to the farmers, the government has said, adding that NAFED, SFAC and other Central agencies would continue to undertake procurement of pulses and oilseeds.
"With the intention of giving enough policy thrust to income security of the farmers, government's focus has shifted from a production-centric approach to income-centric one," the minister said.
"Enhancing the coverage of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) to all farmers in its first Cabinet meeting on May 31, this is another major step in boosting the income of the farmers," the minister stated.
The PM-KISAN Yojana was announced in the interim budget for the year 2019-2020, where the small and marginal landholder farmer families with cultivable land holding upto 2 hectare across the country were assured of Rs 6,000 per year.
The another key scheme Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), which was announced by the Modi government in 2018, is also aimed at providing remunerative return to farmers for their produce as the umbrella scheme consists of three sub-schemes --- Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) and Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPSS).