NEW DELHI, May 19: In view of surplus rice stocks, the Agriculture Ministry has proposed a hike of Rs 60 in support price of paddy at Rs 1,310 per quintal for 2013-14.
The Ministry, however, has favoured increase of up to Rs 450 in support prices of pulses and oilseeds to give a push to their production for reducing dependency on imports.
Barring for two crops, the Ministry has accepted most of the recommendations of the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) on minimum support prices (MSP) of kharif crops for 2013-14 crop year (July-June), sources said.
The Ministry has sought views of state governments on the issue and has circulated a Cabinet note among various ministries recommending MSP of Rs 1,310 per quintal for common variety paddy and Rs 1,345 per quintal for ‘A’ grade variety of paddy for 2013-14 crop year, they added.
For the 2012-13 crop year, paddy MSP of common and ‘A’ grade varieties were fixed at Rs 1,250 per quintal and Rs 1,280 per quintal, respectively.
Paddy is grown in both kharif and rabi season. Sowing of kharif crops begins with the onset of south-west monsoon in June and harvesting starts from October.
The Ministry has recommended increase in MSP of bajra by Rs 135 to Rs 1,310 per quintal, while the CACP had suggested to keep its price unchanged at Rs 1,175 per quintal even during 2013-14.
The Ministry has proposed Rs 135 per quintal increase in MSP of maize at Rs 1,310 per quintal to encourage crop diversification, while it has accepted the CACP’s views to maintain support price of ragi and jowar at last year’s level of Rs 1,500 per quintal each.
To reduce dependency on import of pulses and edible oils, the Ministry has proposed Rs 450 increase in MSP of tur at Rs 4,300 per quintal, while CACP was against hike in tur price and suggested maintaining at Rs 3,850 per quintal as it felt the MSP was higher than domestic and global market.
Among other pulses, the ministry has recommended Rs 100 hike in support price of moong at Rs 4,500 per quintal, while it considered CACP’s view on urad and proposed to keep the MSP unchanged at Rs 4,300 per quintal for 2013-14.
For oilseeds, the ministry has suggested Rs 320 increase in support price of soyabean (yellow) to Rs 2,560 per quintal and Rs 300 jump in MSP of soyabean (black) at Rs 2,500 per quintal.
It has proposed Rs 300 increase each in MSP of groundnut and sesamum at Rs 4,000 per quintal and Rs 4,500 peer quintal, respectively, while it suggested keeping MSP of sunflower seed and nigerseed unchanged at Rs 3,700 and Rs 3,500 per quintal, respectively, for 2013-14.
In cash crops, the Ministry suggested Rs 100 per quintal increase in MSP of cotton at Rs 3,700 per quintal for medium staple and Rs 4,000 per quintal for long staple.
The government has more than double its requirement of rice stock at 34.7 million tonnes as of now. The rice stocks rose due to record procurement and production in the last few years. (PTI)
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