Govt hikes Kharif crop MSPs, Rs 143 increase for paddy
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Educating the farmers that the 2023-24 (Minimum +Support Prices) MSPs for 17 kharif crops and variants have been approved, Former J&K Minister and senior BJP leader Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar told that the Centre government has set the MSP for paddy sown in the kharif or monsoon season at Rs 2,183 per quintal, a hike of Rs 143 per quintal in comparison to last year.
Addressing gathering of villagers in Gajansoo Marh, Former Minister Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar said the sowing of the crops, mainly paddy, has started in most states while the Centre said that its aim was to ensure reasonably fair remuneration for the farmers and to encourage crop diversification.
“This is the highest increase”, said Sukhnandan adding that the farmers will benefit from the increase in the MSP at a time when the retail inflation is declining.
In agriculture, we have been fixing MSP from time to time based on the recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). The increase in MSP of the kharif crops for this year is highest compared to the previous years,” the senior BJP leader said.
Apart from paddy, new MSPs have been set for major pulses. The MSP for moong is Rs 8,558 per quintal, an increase of Rs 803 from last year, one of the highest increases among kharif crops. The MSP for tur or arhar has been set at Rs 7,000 per quintal, which is estimated to be 58 per cent above the cost of production. This is in keeping with the Centre’s promise to set MSPs which are at least one and a half times the all-India weighted average cost of production, Sukhnandan said appreciating the hike in MSP.
“The expected margin to farmers over their cost of production are estimated to be highest in case of bajra (82 per cent ) followed by tur (58 per cent), soybean (52 per cent) and urad (51 per cent). For the rest of the crops, the margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be at least 50 per cent,” said former minister Sukhnandan Kumar, adding LG Sinha has always advocated the cause of J&K farmers and he has been assured that all possible support will be given to J&K farmers.
Farmers all over the country are rejoicing the hike and so in J&K, said Sukhnandan Kumar, adding the Congress and the other opposition parties have no option to survive and still spreading false information to the farmers residing in the rural areas.
For maize, the increase is Rs128 per quintal and the new rate will be Rs 2,090.
For ragi, this year’s MSP will be Rs 3,846 per quintal, which is an increase of Rs 268. Among oilseeds, the MSP for sesamum is Rs 8,635 per quintal, Rs 6,377 for groundnut, and Rs 4,600 for soybean. In the case of niger seed, the new MSP is Rs 7,734 per quintal, and for sunflower seed, it is Rs 6,760. For cotton (long stable) and cotton (medium stable), the MSPs are at Rs 7,020 per quintal and Rs 6,620 per quintal respectively, stated Sukhnandan Kumar adding the farmers must verify these figures are spread it the each village of the J&K UT.
Among others who were present in the gathering include Ex-Sarpanch Om Prakash, Girdhari Lal, Kaka, Tarseem, Mohan Lal and Mool Raj.