Question : MSP for Agricultural Produce

(a) whether protests by farmers are common across the country irrespective of State/UT;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether protesting farmers identify one demand i.e. market driven price for their produce (in line with the Swaminathan Committee recommendation of minimum support price plus 50% profits) as being more urgent than others;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court proclaiming it had no intention and was not capable of delivering on this recommendation; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (f): From time to time, farmers and farmers’ organizations in various parts of the country have been making certain demands like increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for agricultural crops and agricultural loan waiver from the Government.

Along with other demands, the increase in MSPs in line with the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendation of that the MSP should be at least 50 per cent higher than the weighted average cost of production was one important demand.

The Union Budget for 2018-19 has announced the pre-determined principle to keep MSPs at levels of one and half time the cost of production. The Budget for 2018-19 has also indicated that NITI Aayog in consultation with central and state Governments will put in place a fool proof mechanism so that farmers will get adequate price for their produce.

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