Lok Sabha Question No. 1316 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: Unfulfilled Promises to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1316

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## UNFULFILLED PROMISES TO FARMERS

1316. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:

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

- (a) the reason behind non-fulfillment of promise of providing a constitutional guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) despite assurances made by the Government during the earlier farmers' protests, where over 700 farmers reportedly lost their lives; (b) the details of the specific steps taken to address the 12 demands raised by protesting farmers, including the MSP guarantee and ensure that further agitations do not occur; (c) the  manner  in  which  the  Ministry  justify  prioritizing  corporate  interests  over  farmers' welfare, when issues such as fair pricing, timely procurement and equitable policies remain unaddressed; (d) the details of the Government's stance on the demand for a legal guarantee for Minimum 57 Support Prices (MSP) for all crops, as raised by protesting farmers in India; (e) whether there are any plan to introduce legislation to ensure MSP for all crops and if so, the details thereof; and the manner in which the Government plans to address the concerns regarding the cap

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a)  to  (f):  Every  year  Government  fixes  Minimum  Support  Prices  (MSPs)  for  mandated agricultural  crops  for  the  country,  based  on  the  recommendations  of  Commission  for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). In July 2018, the Government of India had decided to fix MSPs at a level of at least 150 percent of the cost of production. The procurement process at MSP involves a series of steps, from setting up of procurement centers by state agencies,
- (f) on MSP under current regulations?

to farmer's registration, grading of crop and payments.  To make MSPs more effective and transparent,  a  committee  has  constituted  on  12th  July  2022.  The  subject  matter  of  the committee also include (i) Suggestions on practicality to give more autonomy to Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and measures to make it more scientific, and (ii) To strengthen the Agricultural Marketing System as per the changing requirements of the country to ensure higher value to the farmers through remunerative prices of their produce by taking advantage of the  domestic  and  export  opportunities.  6  meetings  of  this  committee  and  39 meetings of it's various sub-committees have been held till date.

In order to address demands of the agitating farmers, talk was initiated on 8 th  February, 2024.  Subsequently,  discussions  were  held  on  12 th ,  15 th ,  18 th   February  2024  and  18 th January, 2025. The issues related to agitating farmers' and their demands are also sub-judice in the Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India  and  a  committee  has  also  been  formed  by  the  Hon'ble Supreme Court. Next round of discussion with the farmers is scheduled on 14 th  February,

2025.

Government is implementing several schemes and policies such as Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Suraksha Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) having components of Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF), Price Deficit Payment Scheme (POPS) and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), Public Procurement at MSP, National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) etc. to ensure fair pricing & income support  to  farmers,  aiming  to  protect  them  from  market  volatility  and  exploitation.  These schemes  are  designed  to  support  minimum  support  prices,  improve  market  access  and ensure timely procurement of agricultural produce.

*****