Steep hike in paddy MSP prices! Govt raises rates by Rs 200-1,750 per quintal

The BJP led NDA Government has likely sounded the poll trumpet as it has hiked the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by a whopping Rs 200 per quintal. The move, taken by the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comes less than a year ahead of general election 2019.

With this, the BJP led government fulfilled its poll promise to give farmers 50 per cent more rate than their cost of production.

While the BJP had promised in 2014 to give farmers a price of 1.5 times of cost, an announcement to give effect to the promise was made in the government's fifth and final annual Budget presented on February 1 this year.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) at its meeting on Wednesday approved the MSP of 14 Kharif (summer-sown) crops.

According to sources, the MSP of paddy (common grade) has been increased by Rs 200 to Rs 1,750 per quintal, while that of Grade A variety by Rs 160 per quintal to Rs 1,750, reported PTI.

The MSP of paddy (common) was Rs 1,550 per quintal and Rs 1,590 per quintal for paddy (grade A) variety.

The MSP of cotton (medium staple) has been increased to Rs 5,150 from Rs 4,020 and that of cotton (long staple) to Rs 5,450 from 4,320 per quintal.

In pulses, tur MSP has been raised to Rs 5,675 per quintal from Rs 5,450, and that of moong to Rs 6,975 per quintal from Rs 5,575. Urad MSP has been hiked to Rs 5,600 from Rs 5,400 per quintal.

Hike in paddy MSP is expected to raise food subsidy bill by over Rs 11,000 crore based on procurement figure of the 2016-17 marketing year (October-September), said PTI.

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The Food Corporation of India (FCI), the government's nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains, buys wheat and rice from farmers at MSP and supply the grains under the food security law.

Paddy is the main kharif (summer sown) crop, the sowing of which has already begun with the onset of southwest monsoon.

India is estimated to have harvested a record foodgrains production at 279.51 million tonnes in the 2017-18 crop year (July-June) on all-time high output of rice, wheat, coarse cereals and pulses.

The announcement of higher MSP coupled with forecast of normal monsoon this year could further boost foodgrains output. However, the higher support price could also fuel food inflation.

(With PTI inputs)