New Delhi [India], December 7: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured on Friday that the government will set the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at over 50% of the production cost and will also procure farmers’ produce.
Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Chouhan reiterated the Central Government’s commitment to purchasing crops from farmers at MSP, underscoring the government’s dedication to farmers’ welfare. He contrasted the current government’s approach with that of the Congress, which, he said, had previously denied farmers the MSP for their crops. In contrast, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the government has consistently increased the MSP over the past decade, according to an official press release.
Chouhan further emphasized that the government would not only fix the MSP at more than 50% of production costs but would also ensure the procurement of farmers’ produce. He pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture was renamed in 2015 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, marking a significant shift in focus towards prioritizing farmers’ welfare, which had been lacking before.
During the session, Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar praised Chouhan, referring to him as “Kisano Ke Laadle” (beloved of farmers), and expressed confidence in his ability to fulfill his duties effectively.
Chouhan reiterated that under Prime Minister Modi’s government, promises related to farmers’ welfare would be fulfilled. He also recalled that when Congress was in power, they had rejected the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Commission. In 2019, the Modi government introduced the policy of fixing MSP rates by adding 50% profit on production costs, a commitment to farmers that he said Congress had never honored.
The Union Minister further stated that Modi’s government works with foresight, and the welfare and development of farmers remain its top priority.
This announcement comes amid ongoing protests by farmers, including the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, where they have demanded compensation and a legal guarantee for MSP. However, the protest was called off on Friday evening after some farmers were injured in tear gas shelling by the police to disperse the crowd.