Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has welcomed the increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for all Kharif crops for 2018-19 that was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
Terming the decision of the CCEA as a historic one, he said, “It will help achieve the objective of doubling farmer’s income by 2022 and will give much succour to the farmers.”
An official release from the PMO said that the CCEA has approved the increase in MSPs for all Kharif crops for the current fiscal to boost farmers’ income.
The decision redeems the promise of the pre-determined principle of fixing MSPs at a level of at least 150 % of the cost of production announced by the Union Budget for 2018-19. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices has recommended MSPs for all Kharif crops broadly in line with the announced principle.
The Union Budget had indicated that a paradigm shift in the agricultural policies is needed to achieve the objective of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 through greater emphasis on generating higher incomes of farmers. The increase in the MSPs of nigerseed at Rs. 1,827 per quintal, moong by Rs. 1,400 per quintal, sunflower seed by Rs. 1,288 per quintal and cotton by Rs. 1,130 per quintal is unprecedented.
Mein said all these steps taken by the Centre are in the true spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.