Kharif MSP: Why The Farmers Unions Terming it a Betrayal by the Central Government?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on May 28, has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26.

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The Government claims that it has increased the MSP of Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26, to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce. The highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year has been recommended for Niger seed (Rs.820 per quintal) followed by Ragi (Rs.596 per quintal), Cotton (Rs.589 per quintal) and Sesamum (Rs.579 per quintal).

Where the central government claims that this MSP will provide remunerative prices to the farmers, the farmers unions are stating it a betrayal by the government and just a hoax without purchase guarantee.

Reacting over the government's claim, the major segment of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), in a press release on May 29, alleges that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced for the Kharif season 2025-26 by the BJP led Union Government is yet another betrayal by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi; to be precise for the eleventh Kharif in a row.

The BJP Government has made tall claims that it has given a major boost to farmers by approving an MSP package worth Rs 2.07 lakh crore for the Kharif season of 2025-26. The corporate media has immediately joined the bandwagon and parroted the claim that the new MSP ensures at least 50 per cent profit over the cost of production. In reality this claim is far removed from the truth.

The BJP Government has indulged in a jugglery of numbers and distorted data to wilfully mislead the public.

The state committee of Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta-Dakonda, a Punjab Farmers' Union, has described the central government's announcement of MSP for kharif crops as rubbing salt over farmers’ wounds and stated that announcing MSP without guaranteeing purchase is a hoax.