CCEA hikes MSP for major Rabi crops including wheat, gram and pulses

Government has hiked Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rabi crops including wheat and pulses for Rabi season 2015-16. The MSP of pulses was taken to boost the production as country is facing acute shortage due to domestic demand-supply gap/
Decision in this regard was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
MSP of Rabi crops for season 2015-16

*Note: Figures in Rupees

CCEA also gave its approval for allocation of additional 27 lakh tonnes of foodgrains to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) families through Public Distribution System (PDS).
This will be for states which have yet not implemented National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. So far 20 States have implemented the Act and by March 2016 rest of the states will implement the NFSA.

What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

• MSP is a form of agricultural market intervention undertaken by the Central Government in order to insure agricultural producers are protected against any sharp fall in farm prices.
• The MSP prices are announced by the Central Government at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops.
• The prices are decided by CCEA on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2015