Key Highlights

• Procurement of six Rabi crops rose from 2,302 LMT (2004-05 to 2013-14) to 3,921 LMT (2014-15 to 2025-26), per an official factsheet.
• MSP payments to farmers increased from ₹2.65 lakh crore to ₹8.36 lakh crore across the same periods.
• For RMS 2027-28, an estimated ₹90,962 crore will be paid for 324 lakh MT of produce.
• Safflower saw the highest MSP hike at ₹675 per quintal, followed by rapeseed and mustard (₹413) and lentil (₹390).
• Wheat offers the highest estimated margin over production cost at 106 per cent.

India’s procurement of Rabi crops at minimum support price (MSP) has expanded sharply over the past decade, according to an official factsheet released on Thursday. Procurement of six Rabi crops rose from 2,302 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) during 2004-05 to 2013-14 to 3,921 LMT during 2014-15 to 2025-26. Over the same comparison, MSP payments to farmers climbed from ₹2.65 lakh crore to ₹8.36 lakh crore.

The figures come weeks after the government, on September 30, approved higher MSPs for all mandated Rabi crops for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2027-28. An estimated ₹90,962 crore is expected to be paid to farmers for 324 lakh metric tonnes of produce in the upcoming season.

Oilseeds and Pulses Lead the MSP Hike

The highest absolute increase has been announced for safflower at ₹675 per quintal. It is followed by rapeseed and mustard at ₹413 per quintal, lentil (masur) at ₹390 per quintal, and barley at ₹136 per quintal. MSPs for wheat and gram have also been raised compared with the previous year.

On returns over the cost of production, wheat records the highest estimated margin at 106 per cent, followed by rapeseed and mustard at 96 per cent, lentil at 92 per cent, and gram at 59 per cent.

The pattern is significant. By giving the steepest absolute hikes to oilseeds and pulses, the government is signalling a push toward crop diversification — a stated objective of the revised MSPs. India continues to rely on imports to meet domestic demand for edible oils and some pulses, so stronger price signals for mustard, safflower and lentil could encourage farmers to shift part of their acreage away from wheat. At the same time, wheat’s 106 per cent margin means it remains the most financially secure option for many growers, which may limit how quickly that shift happens.

The government announces MSPs every year for 22 mandated crops, based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Digital Platforms Reshape Procurement

The factsheet also highlighted the role of technology in procurement and payments, saying digital platforms are improving accessibility and transparency and, together with price assurance and wider procurement, strengthening farmers’ access to markets.

As of October 19, 2026, the e-Samyukti platform had facilitated procurement involving more than 43 lakh farmers, with over 37.45 lakh metric tonnes procured and more than ₹13,000 crore credited to farmers. The e-Samriddhi platform recorded more than 1.37 crore registered farmers, over 2.25 crore units of produce procured, and more than 81 lakh payouts.

While the decade-on-decade comparison shows a substantial rise, the figures are absolute totals and do not account for inflation or growth in overall production over the period. How effectively the higher MSPs translate into on-ground procurement for oilseeds and pulses — traditionally procured in smaller volumes than wheat — will be the key test for RMS 2027-28.

(With inputs from IANS)

Key Highlights

• Procurement of six Rabi crops rose from 2,302 LMT (2004-05 to 2013-14) to 3,921 LMT (2014-15 to 2025-26), per an official factsheet.
• MSP payments to farmers increased from ₹2.65 lakh crore to ₹8.36 lakh crore across the same periods.
• For RMS 2027-28, an estimated ₹90,962 crore will be paid for 324 lakh MT of produce.
• Safflower saw the highest MSP hike at ₹675 per quintal, followed by rapeseed and mustard (₹413) and lentil (₹390).
• Wheat offers the highest estimated margin over production cost at 106 per cent.

India’s procurement of Rabi crops at minimum support price (MSP) has expanded sharply over the past decade, according to an official factsheet released on Thursday. Procurement of six Rabi crops rose from 2,302 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) during 2004-05 to 2013-14 to 3,921 LMT during 2014-15 to 2025-26. Over the same comparison, MSP payments to farmers climbed from ₹2.65 lakh crore to ₹8.36 lakh crore.

The figures come weeks after the government, on September 30, approved higher MSPs for all mandated Rabi crops for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2027-28. An estimated ₹90,962 crore is expected to be paid to farmers for 324 lakh metric tonnes of produce in the upcoming season.

Oilseeds and Pulses Lead the MSP Hike

The highest absolute increase has been announced for safflower at ₹675 per quintal. It is followed by rapeseed and mustard at ₹413 per quintal, lentil (masur) at ₹390 per quintal, and barley at ₹136 per quintal. MSPs for wheat and gram have also been raised compared with the previous year.

On returns over the cost of production, wheat records the highest estimated margin at 106 per cent, followed by rapeseed and mustard at 96 per cent, lentil at 92 per cent, and gram at 59 per cent.

The pattern is significant. By giving the steepest absolute hikes to oilseeds and pulses, the government is signalling a push toward crop diversification — a stated objective of the revised MSPs. India continues to rely on imports to meet domestic demand for edible oils and some pulses, so stronger price signals for mustard, safflower and lentil could encourage farmers to shift part of their acreage away from wheat. At the same time, wheat’s 106 per cent margin means it remains the most financially secure option for many growers, which may limit how quickly that shift happens.

The government announces MSPs every year for 22 mandated crops, based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Digital Platforms Reshape Procurement

The factsheet also highlighted the role of technology in procurement and payments, saying digital platforms are improving accessibility and transparency and, together with price assurance and wider procurement, strengthening farmers’ access to markets.

As of October 19, 2026, the e-Samyukti platform had facilitated procurement involving more than 43 lakh farmers, with over 37.45 lakh metric tonnes procured and more than ₹13,000 crore credited to farmers. The e-Samriddhi platform recorded more than 1.37 crore registered farmers, over 2.25 crore units of produce procured, and more than 81 lakh payouts.

While the decade-on-decade comparison shows a substantial rise, the figures are absolute totals and do not account for inflation or growth in overall production over the period. How effectively the higher MSPs translate into on-ground procurement for oilseeds and pulses — traditionally procured in smaller volumes than wheat — will be the key test for RMS 2027-28.

(With inputs from IANS)