New Delhi, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian government has announced a significant increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for six essential rabi crops for the marketing season of 2027-28. This decision, made during a central cabinet meeting under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, aims to empower millions of farmers economically and ensure a steady rise in their incomes. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described this move as both historic and revolutionary for the farming community during a press conference.
Chouhan emphasized that the government’s farmer-friendly policies, combined with scientific research and the hard work of farmers, have propelled India toward food and nutritional security as well as complete self-reliance. He noted that there was a time when the country relied on imported wheat but now boasts a surplus in its granaries. With 46% of the population depending on agriculture, and 86% of farmers being small and marginal, the government’s goal is not just to increase production but also to ensure farmers receive fair and profitable prices for their efforts.
The government has set a clear policy that farmers should earn at least a 50% profit over their average production costs. For the upcoming rabi marketing season, the announced MSPs reflect margins ranging from 50% to 106% above the all-India weighted average production costs. Wheat will see the highest margin at 106%, followed by rapeseed and mustard at 96%, and lentils at 92%, which will directly enhance farmers’ net incomes.
The revised MSP rates for the six rabi crops are as follows: Kusum will see a substantial increase of ₹675 per quintal, bringing the new MSP to ₹7,215 per quintal. Rapeseed and mustard will rise by ₹413 per quintal to ₹6,613 per quintal. Lentils will increase by ₹390 per quintal to ₹7,390 per quintal. Barley will see a rise of ₹136 per quintal, reaching ₹2,286 per quintal. Chickpeas will increase by ₹83 per quintal to ₹5,958 per quintal, while wheat will see a modest rise of ₹25 per quintal to ₹2,610 per quintal.
Comparing the current administration with the previous Congress-led UPA government, Chouhan highlighted that during the UPA’s ten years, farmers received ₹2.65 lakh crore for MSP purchases of six major rabi crops. In contrast, the Modi government’s tenure has seen this amount soar to ₹8.36 lakh crore, more than tripling. The total volume of rabi purchases has also increased from 2,302 lakh metric tons during the UPA era to a record 3,921 lakh metric tons under the current government.
The Agriculture Minister pointed out that while the Congress government procured only 6 lakh metric tons of pulses over a decade, the Modi government has dramatically increased this figure to 2 crore 20 lakh metric tons. Despite this growth, India still imports approximately 60 lakh metric tons of pulses, relying heavily on countries like Canada. To address this dependence and boost domestic production, significant MSP increases for lentils and chickpeas have been implemented.
To further enhance domestic pulse production, the Agriculture Ministry has launched a special initiative to utilize “Rice Fellow Areas,” encouraging farmers to plant pulse crops in fields that lie fallow after rice harvesting. The government is providing advanced seeds, technical guidance, and various financial supports to promote rapid growth in pulse cultivation.
Additionally, to reduce the import bill for edible oils and achieve self-reliance in oilseeds, the MSP for mustard and rapeseed has been raised by ₹413 per quintal. The MSP for Kusum has been increased by ₹675 per quintal to support farmers in remote and marginalized areas.
Chouhan noted that India was once self-sufficient in barley production but had to import 1.13 lakh metric tons in 2025-26 due to declining domestic output. To encourage barley production, its MSP has been raised by ₹136 per quintal.
The Agriculture Ministry has developed a “State-Specific Rabi Plan” after extensive discussions with officials and ministers from various states. This plan includes strategies for drought-resistant crops in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, while states with ample water supply, such as Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, will focus on intensive production strategies.
Chouhan reiterated that every step taken by the Modi government is dedicated to the welfare of farmers, improving their living standards, and making India a global agricultural powerhouse.
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