Parliament Question: Introducing MSP for all Crops

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2876 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH MARCH, 2026 INTRODUCING MSP FOR ALL CROPS

2876. SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether in 2021 the Government promised protesting farmers that it would consider Introducing a legally guaranteed MSP for all crops at C2+50%, if so, the details thereof,

(b) if not, the reasons for the Government's inability to introduce the same.

(c) whether the Central Government has written to State Governments to discontinue the practice of providing MSP bonuses to farmers and if not, the reasons therefor,

(d) whether the Government has considered direct procurement of crops in which India faces a production deficit such as certain pulses and oilseeds and if so, the details thereof, and

(e) whether the commitment to reduce "non-trade barriers" in the joint statement with the US will change India's policies on GM crops, MSP and public procurement that protect crores of farmers, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b): Every year, Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated agricultural crops for the country as a whole, based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP), after considering the views of the State Governments and Central Ministries/Departments concerned.

The Union Budget for 2018-19 had announced the pre-determined principle to keep MSPs at levels of at least one and half times of the cost of production. Accordingly, Government had increased MSPs for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other commercial crops with a minimum return of 50 percent over all India weighted average cost of production from year 2018-19 onwards, which has benefitted farmers across the country.(c): A letter dated 9th January 2026 was written by Secretary (Expenditure) to the Chief Secretaries of the States containing certain suggestions for the State Governments to align their bonus policies with national priorities.

(d) & (e): Government procures cereals and coarse cereals through Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other designated State Agencies to provide price support to the farmers.Procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra is done under Price Support Scheme under Umbrella Scheme of Pradhan Mantri AnnadataAaySanrakshan Abhiyan (PM- AASHA), on the request of the concerned State Government as per the guidelines as and when market price of these produce fall below the MSP. Procurement agencies under PM-AASHA Scheme are National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and National Co-operative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF).

Cotton and Jute are also procured by Government at MSP through Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and Jute Corporation of India (JCI), respectively.

To encourage domestic production, procurement of Tur, Urad and Masur from the pre-registered farmers is undertaken through the Central Nodal Agencies under Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses till 2030-31.

Increased MSP has benefitted farmers of the country which is evident from details of all India procurement and MSP amount paid to farmers during last three years, given

below:

Procurement & MSP value of MSP Crops All MSP Crops 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Total Procurement 1,118 1,089 1,175 (in lakh metric tonnes) Total MSP Value

2.47 2.63 3.33 (in lakh crore) To protect interest of farmers on trade related issues, Government takes appropriate decision from time to time. *****