The Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to take a call on a proposal to hike Minimum Support Price (MSP) for pulses by up to Rs 600 per quintal. The cabinet is likely to approve increase in wheat MSP by Rs 100 to Rs 1,625 per quintal for the 2016-17 rabi crop (winter) against Rs 1,525 per quintal last year.
Barring pulses, the Agricultural ministry has accepted all the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) for the 2016-17 winter crops. The Ministry has proposed Rs 200 per quintal bonus over and above the pulses MSP suggested by the CACP, taking total increase in the support price of gram and masoor to up to Rs 600 per quintal for this year. The Ministry has proposed the support price of gram and masoor at Rs 4,000 per quintal each, including bonus, for the rabi season to boost domestic output, reduce the country's dependence on imports, and check prices.
Besides, the Ministry has recommended increase in the barley MSP by Rs 100 to Rs 1,325 per quintal and safflower by Rs 300 to Rs 3,600 per quintal for the 2016-17 rabi season.