Wed Oct 16 12:38:54 UTC 2024: ## Modi Government Boasts of Doubled MSP for Rabi Crops, Counters Opposition Claims
**New Delhi, India** – The Central government has defended its MSP policy, claiming a significant increase in Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Rabi crops over the past decade. The government highlighted a near doubling of MSP for various crops like wheat, lentils, rapeseed, and mustard, emphasizing the positive impact on farmers’ incomes.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing the media, stated that the MSP for wheat has risen from Rs 1,400 per quintal in 2014-15 to Rs 2,425 per quintal, representing a 73% increase. Similarly, the MSP for lentils has more than doubled, reaching Rs 6,700 per quintal, compared to Rs 2,900 in 2014-15.
Vaishnaw asserted that the government’s commitment to farmer welfare is evident in the consistent increase in MSP for both Rabi and Kharif crops since the Narendra Modi government came to power. The Union Budget of 2018-19 had pledged to fix the MSP at 1.5 times the All-India weighted average Cost of Production.
Highlighting the substantial procurement value under the Modi government, Vaishnaw stated that the government purchased crops worth Rs 20.64 lakh crore between 2014 and 2024, compared to Rs 7.41 lakh crore during the previous UPA regime.
The government also highlighted the recent MSP hike for Kharif crops, with paddy’s MSP reaching Rs 2,300 per quintal and jowar at Rs 3,371, nearly double their 2014-15 values. Similarly, other crops like bajra, maize, and ragi have seen significant MSP increases.
The government further asserted that the MSP adequately covers the cost of production, with a margin of 105% for wheat and over 50% for paddy, the two main staple crops.
This announcement comes as a response to the opposition’s claims of inadequate MSP and farmer distress. The government, however, refuted these claims, presenting the increased MSP figures as evidence of its commitment to farmer welfare and prosperity.
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