Amid farmers’ protests on the issue of MSP and other demands, the government today asserted that it is committed to providing a Minimum Support Price at least 50 per cent above the cost of production of crops. Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asserted that the welfare of farmers is the Centre’s commitment and it has raised MSP on various crops. The Minister said that crops including paddy, wheat, jowar, bajra, ragi, maize, tur and moong are being procured on MSP decided at least 50 per cent above the cost of production in the county. He added that for some crops, the MSP is 100 per cent. Mr Singh alleged that during the previous UPA government, there was no procurement of crops on MSP. He also alleged that the UPA regime had rejected the demand of at least 50 per cent above the cost of production crops as recommended by the M. S. Swaminathan Committee, unlike the present government which accepted it.

Some farmers’ unions are protesting at the Haryana – Punjab border demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price for crops and other issues. They have also planned to march towards Delhi to press for their demands.