Government has approved higher MSP for 14 Kharif crops for 2026–27

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a hike in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the 2026–27 marketing season, with sunflower seed, cotton, nigerseed and sesamum recording the steepest increases.

The government said the revised MSPs are aimed at ensuring remunerative returns to farmers while maintaining its policy of fixing support prices at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.

Sunflower seed saw the highest absolute increase in MSP, rising by ₹622 per quintal to ₹8,343 per quintal. Cotton MSP was increased by ₹557 per quintal, while nigerseed rose by ₹515 per quintal and sesamum by ₹500 per quintal.

Among cereals, paddy (common and Grade A) saw an increase of ₹72 per quintal each, taking the revised MSP to ₹2,441 and ₹2,461 respectively. Hybrid jowar rose by ₹324 per quintal, bajra by ₹125, ragi by ₹319, and maize by ₹10 per quintal.

In pulses, tur/arhar MSP was raised by ₹450 per quintal, urad by ₹400, and moong by ₹12 per quintal. Among oilseeds, groundnut rose by ₹254, soybean by ₹380, sesamum by ₹500, and nigerseed by ₹515 per quintal.

Cotton MSP for medium staple was fixed at ₹8,267 per quintal, while long staple cotton was set at ₹8,667 per quintal.

The government highlighted that MSPs have shown a significant long-term rise since 2013–14, with crops like ragi, nigerseed, jowar, sunflower seed, and cotton recording sharp percentage increases over the decade.

Officials also noted that expected margins over cost of production for 2026–27 are highest for moong, followed by bajra, maize, and tur/arhar.

The Centre said it continues to promote cultivation of pulses, oilseeds and nutri-cereals (“Shree Anna”) by offering comparatively higher MSP support for these crops, while also reporting a sharp rise in procurement and MSP payouts over the past decade.