MSP OF VARIOUS KHARIF CROPS ANNOUNCED
The Government has
announced the minimum support prices of various kharif crops for
the 2003-04 season. A statement in this regard was made in the
Lok Sabha today, by the Agriculture Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh.
The MSP of Sunflower Seed shows an increase of 55 rupees over
the MSP for 2002-03. The MSP of cotton shows an increase of 50
rupees, Groundnut–in-shell and Soya bean of 45 rupees, Tur (arhar),
Moong and Urad of 40 rupees, Sesamum and Niger seed of 35 rupees
and Paddy, Jowar, Bajra, Maize and Ragi of 20 rupees. Despite
some efforts at diversification, no significant increase in the
area under pulses and oilseeds vis-à-vis the traditional
rice-wheat system has taken place. Therefore, a conscious effort
has been made to offer relatively higher increase in MSP in respect
of pulses and oilseeds vis-à-vis rice and wheat.
The following is
the text of the statement made by Shri Rajnath Singh in the Lok
Sabha today.
"The Government
has fixed the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for Fair Average Quality
(FAQ) of Kharif Crops of 2003-04 season. The MSP of paddy common
and paddy Grade-A has been raised by Rs.20 each as compared to
the previous year and fixed at Rs.550 and Rs.580 per quintal respectively.
The MSPs of Jowar,
Bajra, Maize and Ragi have been raised by Rs.20 each and fixed
at Rs. 505 per quintal as against Rs. 485 per quintal fixed for
the previous year.
The MSP of Arhar
(Tur) has been raised to Rs.1360 per quintal as against Rs.1320
per quintal for the previous year, thus marking an increase of
Rs.40 per quintal. Similarly, the MSPs of Moong and Urad have
been raised by Rs.40 per quintal as compared to the previous year.
The MSP of Groundnut-in-shell
has been fixed at Rs.1400 per quintal marking an increase of Rs.45
per quintal as compared to the last year. Similarly, the MSPs
of Soya bean (yellow) and Soya bean (black) have been raised by
Rs.45 per quintal and fixed at Rs.930 and Rs.840 per quintal respectively.
The MSP of Sunflower
Seed has been raised from Rs.1195 per quintal last year to Rs.1250
per quintal for the 2003-04 season.
As compared to the
last year, the MSPs of Sesamum and Niger seed have been fixed
at Rs.1485 per quintal and Rs.1155 per quintal respectively marking
an increase of Rs.35 per quintal.
The MSP of Cotton
(F-414/H-777/J-34) and (H-4) varieties have been raised by Rs.50
per quintal as compared to the previous year.
It is expected that
the increase effected in the MSPs of the kharif crops will encourage
the farmers for increasing the production and productivity of
the crops in the country and will also encourage the farmers in
diversification of crops."
