Government hikes MSP for milling copra, ball copra

The government has hiked the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of milling copra for 2016 season by Rs 400 per quintal to Rs 5,950 while the MSP for ball copra has been increased by Rs 410 to Rs 6,240 per quintal. The MSP ensures appropriate minimum prices to the farmers and steps-up investment in coconut cultivation and thereby helps to increase production and productivity.

The decision for increase in MSP is based on the recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), an expert body, which took into account the cost of production, overall demand-supply, domestic and international prices and cost of conversion of copra into coconut oil, among other factors.

The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India (NCCF) would continue to act as Central Nodal Agencies to undertake price support operations at the minimum support prices in the coconut growing states.