Budget 2018: Issue is to enforce MSP, hike is secondary, says Ramesh Chand

He says there is no point in fixing an MSP at whatsoever level if it is not implemented

The Union Budget announcement of a minimum support price (MSP) that will be 50 per cent more than the cost of production has started a debate on the calculation of cost. RAMESH CHAND, member, NITI Aayog, speaks to Sanjeeb Mukherjee on this and related issues. Edited excerpts:

What is the better cost calculation method for fixing the MSP between A2+FL (actual paid-out cost plus imputed value of family labour) or C2 (comprehensive cost, including imputed rent and interest on owned land and capital)?

Farmers face two types of problems related to the MSP. The first and more serious one is that the