New Delhi, 13 May (H.S.):

The central government has approved increases in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif crops for the 2026–27 marketing season. Rice (paddy) has been raised by Rs 72 per quintal, jowar by Rs 324, and maize by Rs 10 per quintal; additionally, the MSP for sunflower seed has been increased by Rs 622 per quintal.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved MSP hikes for 14 Kharif crops for the 2026–27 marketing season to ensure farmers receive remunerative prices for their harvests. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told a press briefing at the National Media Centre that the government has raised MSPs to secure fair returns for producers.

Compared with last year, the largest MSP increases were for sunflower seed (Rs 622 per quintal), followed by cotton (Rs 557 per quintal), niger seed (Rs 515 per quintal) and sesame (til) (Rs 500 per quintal).

For the 2026–27 Kharif marketing season, the MSP for common rice has been raised by Rs 72 per quintal from Rs 2,369 to Rs 2,441. The MSP for rice Grade‑A has likewise been increased by Rs 72 per quintal, from Rs 2,389 to Rs 2,461.

The MSP for hybrid jowar has been increased by Rs 324 per quintal from Rs 3,699 to Rs 4,023, while the MSP for maldandi jowar has been raised by Rs 324 from Rs 3,749 to Rs 4,073 per quintal.

The MSP for bajra has been increased by Rs 125 per quintal from Rs 2,775 to Rs 2,900. The MSP for ragi has been augmented by Rs 319 per quintal from Rs 4,886 to Rs 5,205.

The MSP for maize has been raised by Rs 10 per quintal from Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,410. The MSP for tur/arhar has been increased by Rs 450 per quintal from Rs 8,000 to Rs 8,450. The MSP for moong has been raised by Rs 12 per quintal from Rs 8,768 to Rs 8,780, while the MSP for urad has been increased by Rs 400 per quintal from Rs 7,800 to Rs 8,200.

The MSP for groundnut (peanut) has been increased by Rs 254 per quintal from Rs 7,263 to Rs 7,517. The MSP for sunflower seed has been raised by Rs 622 per quintal from Rs 7,721 to Rs 8,343. The MSP for soybean (yellow) has been increased by Rs 380 per quintal from Rs 5,328 to Rs 5,708. The MSP for sesame (til) has been raised by Rs 500 per quintal from Rs 9,846 to Rs 10,346, and the MSP for niger seed has been increased by Rs 515 per quintal from Rs 9,537 to Rs 10,052.

The MSP for medium staple cotton has been increased by Rs 557 per quintal from Rs 7,710 to Rs 8,267, and MSP for long staple cotton has been raised by Rs 557 per quintal from Rs 8,110 to Rs 8,667.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar