The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24.
Centre has increased the MSP of Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24, to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce.
The absolute highest increase in MSP has been approved for lentils (Masur) at Rs.500 per quintal followed by rapeseed and mustard at Rs.400 per quintal. For safflower, an increase of Rs.209 per quintal has been approved. For wheat, gram and barley an increase of Rs.110 per quintal, and Rs.100 per quintal respectively has been approved.
The increase in MSP for Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24 is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the All-India weighted average Cost of Production, aiming at reasonably fair remuneration for the farmers. The maximum rate of return is 104 per cent for rapeseed & mustard, followed by 100 per cent for wheat, 85 per cent for lentils; 66 per cent for gram; 60 per cent for the barley; and 50 per cent for safflower.
From the year 2014-15, there has been a renewed focus on increasing the production of oilseeds and pulses. The efforts have yielded good results. Oilseeds production has increased from 27.51 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 37.70 million tonnes in 2021-22 (4th advance estimates). Pulses production has shown a similar increasing trend. The Seed Minikits programme is a major tool for introducing new varieties of seeds in the farmers’ fields and is instrumental in increasing the seed replacement rate.
The productivity of pulses and oilseeds has increased substantially since 2014-15. In the case of pulses, productivity has increased from 728 kg/ha (2014-15) to 892 kg/ha (4th Advance estimates, 2021-22) i.e. 22.53% increase. Similarly, in oilseed crops productivity has increased from 1075 kg/ha (2014-15) to 1292 kg/ha (4th Advance estimates, 2021-22).
The Government’s priority is on increasing the production of oilseeds and pulses and thus fulfilling the objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The formulated strategies are to increase production through area expansion, productivity through High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), MSP support and procurement.
The Government of India is also promoting the adoption of smart farming methods through the use of technology and innovation in the agriculture sector of the country. The government is implementing a Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM), which includes India's Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA), Farmers Database, Unified Farmers Service Interface (UFSI), Funding to the States on the new Technology (NeGPA), Revamping Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC), Soil health, Fertility and profile mapping.
Under the GPA programme, funding is given to State Governments for Digital Agriculture projects using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Internet of Things (IOT), Block chain etc. The adoption of drone technologies is being done. To promote smart farming, the Government also promotes Startups in the Agriculture sector and nurtures agri-entrepreneurs.
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