TIA correspondent
NEW DELHI: Government has increased the Minimum Support Price for rabi (winter crops) for 2010-11.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Wednesday approved the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of rabi crops of 2010-11 to be marketed in 2011-12 season.
While, the MSP for wheat has been raised by Rs 20 per quintal, that of pulses have been increased by upto Rs 380 per quintal. Support prices for Masoor and Gram have been hiked sharply by Rs 380 and Rs 340 respectively. The MSP for wheat, which was Rs 1100 per quintal in the last season will now be Rs 1120 per quintal.
The increase in the MSP of rabi crops of 2010-11 season was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) at its meeting in New Delhi today. The MSP for safflower has been increased by Rs 120 per quintal and that of Barley by Rs 30 per quintal. The government has raised the MSP of pulses substantially this year to boost production and cut dependence on imports.
The Cabinet has also approved amendments to the Seeds Bill, 2004, aimed at regulating the quality of seeds and ensuring their availability to the farmers. According to an official release this will help in checking the sail of spurious and poor quality seeds increase private participation in the production and distribution of seeds and to liberalise imports of seeds and planting materials.
