Rajya Sabha Gets an Update on Guarantee of MSP to Farmers

Government of India announces Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 22 major agricultural commodities of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) each year in both the Crop seasons after taking into account the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). Government also extends remunerative prices to farmers through its various interventions schemes.

The procurement at MSP is being done by Central and State Agencies under various schemes of Government. Besides, the overall market also responds to the declaration of MSP and Government’s procurement operations which results in private procurement on or above the MSP for various notified crops.

This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha.

For making effective procurement by government agencies at MSP and providing maximum benefits of MSP to the farmers, procurement centres are opened by respective State Government Agencies and Central Nodal Agencies like NAFED, FCI etc. after taking into account the production, marketable surplus, convenience of farmers and availability of other logistics / infrastructure such as storage and transportation etc. large number of the purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandis and depots / godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of farmers.

However, if the farmers gets favourable terms to sell his produce or better price than MSP, they are free to sell their produce anywhere other than the Govt agencies.