The federal government on Tuesday introduced minimal assist worth (MSP) for six rabi crops for the advertising and marketing season (RMS) 2023-24, with Rs 110 per quintal (5.46 per cent) enhance for the wheat crop.
The MSP for different rabi crops — barley, gram, lentil (masur), rapeseed & mustard, and safflower — has been elevated within the vary of two.01 per cent to 9.09 per cent. In absolute time period, the very best enhance within the MSP has been accepted for lentil (masur) at Rs 500 per quintal, adopted by rapeseed and mustard (Rs 400 per quintal), safflower (Rs 209 per quintal), gram (Rs 105 per quintal), and barley (Rs 100 per quintal).
Briefing reporters, Data and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur stated: “The Cupboard Committee on Financial Affairs met beneath the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and so they have accepted the rise within the MSP for all mandated rabi crops for advertising and marketing season 2023-24. Wheat MSP was Rs 2,015 (per quintal), and after a rise of Rs 110, it is going to be Rs 2,125.”
The rise within the wheat MSP is increased in each absolute and proportion phrases in comparison with final yr. Final yr, the federal government hiked the wheat MSP by Rs 40 per quintal (2.03 per cent). In absolute phrases, a hike of Rs 110 per quintal within the MSP of wheat is the very best since 2017-18, when an equal hike was made — from Rs 1,625 to Rs 1,735.
The rise within the wheat MSP assumes significance in view of decrease manufacturing and procurement within the just-ended rabi season. As per the Fourth Advance Estimates launched by the Agriculture Ministry on August 17, 2022, wheat manufacturing is estimated at 106.84 million tonne throughout 2021-22, which is decrease than the goal (110 million tonne) for the yr and 109.59 million tonne precise manufacturing recorded in 2020-21.
Whereas there was a marginal dip in manufacturing throughout 2021-22, there was a pointy decline within the procurement of wheat for the Central pool. Within the RMS 2022-23, the federal government has procured 18.79 million tonnes of wheat, which is lower than half of the amount (43.3 million tonne) procured within the earlier yr (RMS 2020-21). Moreover, there was a pointy enhance within the retail and wholesale costs of wheat and ‘atta’ (wheat flour) in latest months.
An official assertion, issued after the CCEA assembly, stated that the Centre has elevated the MSP of rabi crops to “guarantee remunerative costs to the growers”.
“The rise in MSP for rabi crops is consistent with the Union Finances 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a degree of at the very least 1.5 instances of the All-India weighted common price of manufacturing, aiming at moderately honest remuneration for the farmers. The utmost charge of return is 104 per cent for rapeseed & mustard, adopted by 100 per cent for wheat, 85 per cent for lentil; 66 per cent for gram; 60 per cent for barley; and 50 per cent for safflower,” the assertion stated.
As per the assertion, the MSP for barley has been hiked by 6.12 per cent from Rs 1,635 to Rs 1,735 per quintal; gram by 2.01 per cent from Rs 5,230 to Rs 5,335; lentil by 9.09 per cent from Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000; rapeseed and mustard by 7.92 per cent from Rs 5,050 to Rs 5,450; and safflower by 3.84 per cent from Rs 5,441 to Rs 5,650.
Whereas the Centre has introduced the MSP of wheat at Rs 2,125 per quintal as really useful by the Fee for Agricultural Prices and Costs, it’s decrease than the per quintal MSP prompt by 9 states — Bihar (Rs 2,174), Chhattisgarh (Rs 2,250), Gujarat (Rs 3,500), Jharkhand (Rs 2,673), Maharashtra (Rs 3,796), Punjab (Rs 3,040), Rajasthan (Rs 2,450), Telangana (Rs 5,259) and West Bengal (Rs 3,140). Seven states particularly Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand—all of them BJP dominated — didn’t make any suggestion for the wheat MSP.