From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Miniter Modi, on Wednesday raised the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy marginally by Rs 100 per quintal to Rs 2,040 per quintal for the 2022-23 kharif crop year, according to I&B Minister Anurag Thakur.
“Dependence on imports has reduced. Farmers’ income has increased. Approved rates are in line with the principle of fixing the MSPs at a level of at least 1.5 times the production cost,” Thakur told a press conference here after the Cabinet meeting.
WHEAT EXPORTS: Besides, the government may soon allow traders to send out about 1.2 million tonnes of wheat that is stuck at ports in the wake of the sudden ban on its exports on May 14. Traders, however, says this is not full releif since about 5 lakh tonnes of their wheat is stuck at the ports.
The Centre has exempted the letters of credit (LCs) already issued an the oversea shipments to the countries that requested supplies to meet their food security needs.
OTHER CROPS: A big hike has been given in case of the pulses, Rs 300 per quintal by fixing the price of Tur (Arhar) and Urad at Rs 6,600 per quintal, while Moong price up by Rs 480 per quintal. Groundnut price is also increased by Rs 300 per quintal, fixing new MSP at Rs 5,850 per quintal. The MSP of Soyabean, sunflower seed and sesamum has been also raised.
The MSP of cotton (medium staple) is fixed at Rs 6,080 per quintal by giving a hike of Rs 354 and the long staple cotton at Rs 6,380 per quintal by giving the hike of Rs 355 per quintal.
Bajra price is increased by Rs 100 per quintal and fixed at Rs 2,350 per quintal, while both hybrid and Maldandi jowar have been given a rise of Rs 232 per quintal and fixed at Rs 2,970 and 2,990 per quintal respectively. Ragi support price is up by Rs 201 per quintal and maize by Rs 92 per quintal.
