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Agriculture & Food Management 243

Figure 12: Cost, MSP & Returns of Kharif Crops for the year 2021-22.

Source: DAFW

7.21 Government also announced the MSPs for all mandated Rabi crops for Rabi Marketing
Season 2021-22. In view of nutritional requirements, changing dietary pattern and to achieve
self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds production, the Government has fixed relatively higher
MSP for these crops (Figure 13). The highest increase in MSP has been recommended for lentil
(masur) and rapeseed & mustard at ₹ 400 per quintal each followed by gram at ₹ 130 per quintal
and safflower at ₹ 114 per quintal. The expected returns to farmers over their cost of production
are estimated to be highest in case of wheat and rapeseed & mustard at 100 per cent each. For
masur (lentil) and gram, return to farmers over cost of production is estimated at 79 per cent
and 74 per cent respectively and for barley and safflower, it is 60 per cent and 50 per cent
respectively. The differential remuneration is aimed at encouraging crop diversification.

Figure 13: Cost, MSP & Returns of Rabi Crops of year 2021-22

Source: DAFW

Crop Diversification
7.22 Crop diversification can be used as a tool to promote sustainable agriculture, reduction
in import dependence and higher incomes for the farmers. The report of the DFI Committee
suggests that shifting some area from staple cereals to high value produce can lead to a sizable
increase in the returns for farmers. The Report further states that this would also bring in water