Lok Sabha Question No. 4541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-23
Subject: MSP of Maize
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Santosh Kumar, Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4541

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 23 RD  MARCH, 2021

## MSP OF MAIZE

4541. SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has any plan to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of maize;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  set  up  any  expert  committee  to  examine  costing  of maize crops by farmers and accordingly take a decision for fixing MSP of maize;
- (c) whether farmers in Bihar specially in Purnea and Katihar districts are facing problems in the sale of their maize;
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to extend support to maize growing farmers to sell their maize and set proper MSP prices and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी      (

SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b):     The Government announces Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 22 mandated crops, including maize, on the basis of recommendations of Commission  for Agricultural  Costs  &  Prices  (CACP)  after  considering  the  views  of  State  Governments and Central Ministries/Departments concerned and other relevant factors. Government has fixed MSP of maize at Rs. 1850/- per quintal for 2020-21 season.

Cost of production is one of the important factors in the determination of MSPs. While recommending its price policy, the CACP considers all costs in a comprehensive manner. The  estimates  of  cost  of  cultivation/cost  of  production  are  made  available  to CACP through the  Central  Sector  Scheme  ' Comprehensive  Scheme  for  Studying  the Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops '. The data on cost of cultivation are collected with the help of State Agricultural Universities/Institutions located in various States.

(c) to (e):    As per the extant guidelines for allocation, distribution and disposal of coarse grains procured by state agencies/ Food  Corporation of India (FCI), the State Governments are allowed to procure coarse grains including maize from the farmers at MSP  under  the  central  pool  with  the  prior  approval  of  Government  of  India  on  the detailed procurement plan prepared by the State Governments in consultation with FCI. The whole quantity is distributed under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) in the State/UT. For Bihar, no valid procurement plan has been received in the last three years for procurement of coarse grain.

Procurement of Maize by State Agencies/FCI since 2017-18 is given below:

(As on 08.03.2021)

| Year    |   Procurement (in MT) |
|---------|-----------------------|
| 2017-18 |                 47794 |
| 2018-19 |                 12103 |
| 2019-20 |                115138 |
| 2020-21 |                198829 |

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