Cost estimates of legalising MSP purely theoretical attempts: Ramesh Chand

States and Centre should jointly work towards ensuring MSP; farm law repeal temporary setback to growth and development of agriculture

After the repeal of the three farm acts, one key demand of the protesting farmers is legalising the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism. In an interview with Business Standard, NITI Aayog member and eminent agriculture economist Ramesh Chand discusses the pros and cons of the demand and how realistic are the numbers being cited for the likely cost to exchequer of giving legal guarantee to MSP. Edited excerpts:

There are a lot of numbers floating around on the cost to exchequer if MSP is legalised and the government ends up buying a portion of the produce annually. What is your