Pulses MSP in rabi season: Hike of Rs 475/quintal recommended

To boost production and check prices of lentils, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recommended a sharp increase of up to Rs 475 per quintal in the minimum support price (MSP) of pulses for the winter season. The body has suggested an increase of Rs 100 in wheat MSP to Rs 1,625 a quintal for the rabi crop (winter), against Rs 1,525 per quintal in the last year, sources

said. The CACP has submitted the MSP proposals for wheat and other winter crops for 2016-17 rabi season to the agriculture ministry. The MSP is the rate at which the government buys the grain from farmers.

Wheat is the main crop grown in the rabi season and its sowing will begin from next month. Rabi crops will be marketed in 2017-18, starting April.

In the case of pulses, the CACP has suggested a sharp rise in the MSP of masoor and chana (gram) by up to Rs 475 to Rs 3,800 per quintal each for this year, sources said.

The MSP of gram was fixed at Rs 3,425 a quintal and that of masoor at Rs 3,325 a quintal in 2015-16.

That apart, the CACP has recommended increase in the barley MSP by Rs 100 to Rs 1,325 a quintal and safflower by Rs 300 to Rs 3,600 a quintal for the 2016-17 rabi season.

Higher MSP for rabi (winter) pulses has been suggested with an aim to boost domestic output and check price rise. MSP for kharif (summer) pulses was also raised sharply this year.

The government is targeting 20.75 million tonnes (mt) of pulses production this year on account of good monsoon. It expects 13.5 mt of output from the ensuing rabi season, while 8.7 mt is estimated to have been harvested in the just completed kharif season.

The agriculture ministry is in the process of moving a Cabinet note in this regard.