Farmers not getting MSP, says agriculture minister

The Centre on Friday said efforts were being made to ensure that farmers in the country get minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

During the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that from his experience he felt that the farmers often did not get the price settled as the MSP.

"Apart from wheat and paddy, there are items for which the MSP is announced. There is a price support scheme, that whenever the price comes beneath the MSP, the government should buy. When a proposal comes from a state, the Centre gives the money for the purchase. I would like to inform that for over 8 lakh metric tonnes had been procured for pulses, cotton etc," the minister said.

He said consultations were on with states and the NITI Aayog to find out how a better system can be established to ensure right price for farm produce.