The Hindu : MSP for oilseeds, pulses

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 31, 2003

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National

MSP for oilseeds, pulses

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI July 30. In keeping with the Centre's strategy to promote diversification of the country's agriculture from the traditional rice-wheat system, the Union Agriculture Minister, Rajnath Singh, today announced a sharp increase in the minimum support price for oilseeds and pulses for the current year's kharif season.

In the case of oilseeds, the MSP for sunflower has been increased by Rs. 55 a quintal, while that for groundnut, soya (yellow) and soya (black) by Rs. 45 a quintal, and for sesamum and niger by Rs. 35 a quintal.

In the case of pulses, the increase has been a uniform Rs. 40 a quintal.

So while the MSP has been now fixed at Rs. 1,400 a quintal for groundnut, Rs. 1,250 a quintal for sunflower seed, Rs. 1,485 a quintal for sesamum, Rs. 1,155 a quintal for niger, Rs. 930 a quintal for soya (yellow), Rs. 840 a quintal for soya (black), Rs. 1,370 a quintal for moong and urad and Rs. 1,360 for arahar.

The MSP for rice, on the other hand, has been raised by Rs. 20 a quintal to Rs. 580 a quintal for grade `A', and Rs. 550 a quintal for common variety. Considering that a special drought relief (SDR) of Rs. 20 a quintal was given last year for paddy cultivation, in effect there would be no increase in the procurement price.

In the case of oilseeds and pulses, on the other hand, the SDR was given in the range of Rs. 5 to Rs. 20 a quintal, and so even after taking into account, there is a substantial increase in the support price for them.

Announcing the new MSPs in a statement in Parliament, Mr. Rajnath Singh hoped that the new rates would encourage farmers to diversify from the traditional rice-wheat system to other crops. In a related development, the Minister launched a website of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research that would provide agro-meteorological information such as monsoon conditions, and advance estimates of foodgrain production.

The site is expected to be of help to planners, administrators and farmers. The address is: www.dryland.ap.nic.in

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