Lok Sabha Question No. 2444 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: MSP as Guarantee to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Ranjan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2444

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH  AUGUST, 2024

## MSP AS GUARANTEE TO FARMERS

## 2444.    SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  give  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  as guarantee to farmers;
- (b)  whether  any  assurance  has  been  given  to  farmers  during  their  Kisan  Andolan period;
- (c)  whether it  is a fact  that  if  MSP  comes  as  Guarantee,  it  would  help the farmers to increase their earnings from the crops output as well as avoid exploitation by the middle man as big stockiest; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी      ( SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a) to (d):  The Government is committed that the full benefits of MSP reach the farmers of the country. Hence a committee has been constituted by the government to provide MSP to the farmers of the country and to give suggestions on making the system more effective  and  transparent.  Additionally,  the  Committee  was  asked  to  examine  the feasibility  of  giving  greater  autonomy  to  the  Commission  for  Agricultural  Costs  and Prices (CACP) and ways to make it more scientific; and with a view to ensuring higher prices,  mandate  has  also  been  given  to  give  suggestions  for  strengthening  the agricultural marketing system as per the changing needs of the country. This committee is also working on the topics of natural farming and crop diversification. The meetings of this committee are being organized regularly and since July 22, 2022, 6 meetings have been held till now. Additionally, 35 meetings of various sub-committees have also been held on the above subjects.

In normal course, requests, demands and suggestions from various stakeholders are  received  by  the  Government  for  an  appropriate  action.  Government  has  taken several steps like policy reforms, developmental programmes and schemes for making agriculture, sustainable and more profitable profession. These include:

- i. Supplementary income transfers under PM-KISAN of Rs 6000 per year in three equal instalments. ii. Increase in Minimum Support Price (MSPs) for all Kharif & Rabi crops ensuring a minimum of 50 percent of profit margin on the cost of production, iii. Crop insurance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojna (PMFBY), iv. Better access to irrigation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), v. Special attention for creation of infrastructure through Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with a size of Rs. 100,000 crore, vi. New procurement policy under PM-AASHA in addition to FCI operations, vii. Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) offering production loan to even dairy & fishery farmers besides agricultural crops, viii. Formation and promotion of 10,000 FPOs, ix. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), which aims to evolve and implement strategies to make Indian agriculture more resilient to the changing climate. x. Adoption of drone technologies in agriculture which has a potential to revolutionize the Indian agriculture. xi. Benefits accruing under Bee-Keeping, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Blue Revolution, Interest Subvention Scheme, agro-forestry, restructured bamboo mission, implementation of new generation watershed guidelines, etc xii. Focus on application of digital technology at all stages of agricultural value chain. xiii. Supply of fertilizer to farmer at subsidized price so as to reduce input cost.
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