Raise minimum support price for pulses, says CACP

Ministry of agriculture would examine proposals and then send it to the Cabinet

The central government might increase its minimum support price (MSP) for tur (red gram) and moong dal (green gram) by Rs 200 and Rs 475 a quintal, respectively, for the 2017-18 kharif season, if it agrees with the recommendations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Officials said the government normally accepts these. The Ministry of Agriculture would examine the proposals and then send it to the Cabinet. Kharif sowing starts around July and crops are harvested from October. 

In percentage terms, these would be increases of around four and nine per cent for tur and moong, respectively, to Rs 5,250 a quintal and Rs 5,700 a quintal. There could be an additional bonus to incentivise production. 

Officials said among other kharif crops, CACP had recommended an Rs 80 a quintal (six per cent) hike in the MSP of both the common grade and A-grade paddy, to Rs 1,550 and Rs 1,590 a quintal, respectively. For maize, a rise to Rs 1,390 a quintal, from the current Rs 1,330 a quintal.

Among commercial crops, the panel recommended an MSP of Rs 4,020 a quintal for medium-staple cotton, from the existing Rs 3,860 a quintal. 

For soybean, the MSP recommended is Rs 2,850 a quintal for the 2017-18 season, an increase of Rs 75. That for groundnut is recommended to be maintained at Rs 4,220 a quintal.

India’s rice production in the 2016-17 crop year is estimated at 109 million tonnes (mt), almost four mt more than last year. Moong dal production in 2016-17 is projected at an all-time high of 2.13 mt, against 1.6 mt last year. Tur production is estimated at a record 4.23 mt, about 65 per cent more. Overall, pulses production in 2016-17 is estimated to be a record 22-plus mt, from 16.35 mt last year.