Amarinder okays proposal to seek hike in MSP for rabi crops

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today cleared a proposal seeking increase in the central government's Minimum Support Price (MSP) of various Rabi crops for 2017-18.
The state agriculture department had forwarded a detailed proposal to the Commission for Agriculture Costs & Prices (CACP) seeking hike in the MSP of wheat from Rs 1,625 per quintal in 2016-17 to Rs 2,180 in 2017-18, an official spokesperson said here.
Likewise, the agriculture department has also sought an upward revision in the MSP of barley from Rs 1,325 to Rs 1,813 per quintal.
The chief minister has also approved demand for hike in the MSP of gram from Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,193 per quintal, and of rapeseed and mustard from Rs 3,600 to Rs 3,960 per quintal.

Amarinder Singh said the hike in the MSP was necessitated to boost the promotion of crops like barley, gram, rapeseed and mustard in the state.
The move will not only benefit the state's peasantry but also help in arresting the trend of the declining ground water, he said.