New Delhi. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the MSPs for 14 kharif crops ahead of the sowing season, which begins in June with the arrival of the southwest monsoon.
the Centre sanctioned an increase in the minimum support prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the marketing season of 2026-27. The most widely cultivated Kharif crop, paddy, will see a rise of Rs 72 per quintal (3%), bringing its price to Rs 2,441 per quintal.
Notably, the highest absolute increase in MSP compared to the previous year has been proposed for sunflower seed at Rs 622 per quintal, followed by cotton at Rs 557 per quintal, niger seed at Rs 515 per quintal, and sesamum at Rs 500 per quintal. This adjustment signals to farmers a preference for oilseeds over other crops, aiming to mitigate India’s edible oil import expenses.
Conversely, the anticipated profit margins for farmers relative to their production costs are projected to be the highest for moong (61%), followed by bajra (56%), maize (56%), and tur/arhar (54%). This aligns with the government’s initiative to diversify crops, promoting pulses and millets as primary options for farmers. In both percentage and absolute terms, the MSP increases for maize and moong are at the lower end of the spectrum.
The cabinet-approved hike will take effect from the marketing season starting on October 1. Kharif crops are typically sown during the monsoon season (June-September) and harvested in October-November.
The government estimates the total financial outlay for farmers at Rs 2.6 lakh crore, considering the projected annual procurement of 824.4 lakh tonnes.
In detailing the cabinet’s decision, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the new MSPs have been established to guarantee profitable prices for farmers, ensuring they are at least 50% above the production costs for all 14 crops.
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