(a) whether the Government has announced Minimum Support Prices for various Kharif
Crops during 2005-06;
(b) if so, the comparative figures for the years 2004-05 and 2005-06, crop-wise; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure adequate availability of Kharif Crops in the
country?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The Government has announced the Minimum Support Prices for
various Kharif crops of 2005-06 season. A statement indicating the comparative figures for
2004-05 and 2005-06 is given in the Annexure.
(c): The Government organizes purchase operations through public and cooperative agencies
such as Food Corporation of India (FCI), Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), National
Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED), besides other agencies designated by
the State Governments. The designated central nodal agencies are required to intervene in the
market for undertaking procurement operations with the objective that the market prices do not
fall below the MSPs fixed by the Government and farmers continue to grow these crops.
ANNEXURE
Minimum Support Prices of Kharif Crops
(According to Crop Year)
S.No. Commodity Variety 2004-05 2005-06 1 Paddy Common 560 570 Grade `A` 590 600 2 Jowar 515 525 3 Bajra 515 525 4 Maize 525 540 5 Ragi 515 525 6 Arhar (Tur) 1390 1400 7 Moong 1410 1520 8 Urad 1410 1520 9 Cotton F-414/H-777 1760 1760 /J34H-4 1960 1980 10 Groundnut 1500 1520 in shell 11 Sunflower seed 1340 1500 12 Soyabean Black 900 900 Yellow 1000 1010 13 Sesamum 1500 1550 14 Nigerseed 1180 1200