Indian National Congress (INC) leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (Feb 13) promised to fulfil the farmers' key demand of a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops if the INDIA bloc wins upcoming general elections and comes to power.&nbsp;

The opposition condemned the BJP governments at the Centre and also in states for stopping protesting farmers from marching to the Indian capital of New Delhi.&nbsp;

MSP is announced by the government at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops on the basis of several factors and aims at insuring agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-indian-politician-ashok-chavans-slip-of-tongue-after-joining-bjp-he-was-immediately-corrected-689928">WATCH: Indian politician Ashok Chavan's slip of tongue after joining BJP, he was immediately corrected</a>&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi shared a post in Hindi on X, which is loosely translated in English as: "Farmer brothers, today is a historic day! Congress has decided to give a legal guarantee of MSP to every farmer on crops as per the Swaminathan Commission."&nbsp;

"This step will change the lives of 15 crore farmer families by ensuring their prosperity. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice. #KisaanNYAYGuarantee," he added.&nbsp;

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of neglecting the voice of farmers after "failing" to fulfil the promises made to them over 10 years.&nbsp;

"If Congress comes to power at the Centre (after the Lok Sabha polls), it will ensure legal guarantee to MSP in the interest of farmers. It is our first guarantee," Kharge said during Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in the Ambikapur district of Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Farmers protest: What are the restrictions imposed in Delhi &amp; neighbouring states?&nbsp;

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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/farmers-protest-kejriwal-government-declines-centres-appeal-to-turn-stadium-into-jail-689760">Farmers protest: Kejriwal government declines Centre's appeal to turn stadium into jail</a>&nbsp;

<h2>Farmers protest in Delhi NCR&nbsp;</h2>

Randeep Surjewala, who is the party general secretary, said the Congress party supports the farmers' agitation and questioned why authorities were resorting to "dictatorial" behaviour by putting up barricades and converting Delhi into a "police cantonment".&nbsp;

Farmers from several associations, mostly from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, had called for a protest on February 13 to demand a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price for crops.&nbsp;

The farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organization, and compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous 2020-21 agitation, among others.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Indian National Congress (INC) leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (Feb 13) promised to fulfil the farmers' key demand of a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops if the INDIA bloc wins upcoming general elections and comes to power.

Indian National Congress (INC) leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (Feb 13) promised to fulfil the farmers' key demand of a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops if the INDIA bloc wins upcoming general elections and comes to power. The opposition condemned the BJP governments at the Centre and also in states for stopping protesting farmers from marching to the Indian capital of New Delhi. MSP is announced by the government at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops on the basis of several factors and aims at insuring agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. Also read: WATCH: Indian politician Ashok Chavan's slip of tongue after joining BJP, he was immediately corrected Rahul Gandhi shared a post in Hindi on X, which is loosely translated in English as: "Farmer brothers, today is a historic day! Congress has decided to give a legal guarantee of MSP to every farmer on crops as per the Swaminathan Commission." "This step will change the lives of 15 crore farmer families by ensuring their prosperity. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice. #KisaanNYAYGuarantee," he added. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of neglecting the voice of farmers after "failing" to fulfil the promises made to them over 10 years. "If Congress comes to power at the Centre (after the Lok Sabha polls), it will ensure legal guarantee to MSP in the interest of farmers. It is our first guarantee," Kharge said during Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in the Ambikapur district of Chhattisgarh. Watch: Farmers protest: What are the restrictions imposed in Delhi & neighbouring states? × Also read: Farmers protest: Kejriwal government declines Centre's appeal to turn stadium into jail Farmers protest in Delhi NCR Randeep Surjewala, who is the party general secretary, said the Congress party supports the farmers' agitation and questioned why authorities were resorting to "dictatorial" behaviour by putting up barricades and converting Delhi into a "police cantonment". Farmers from several associations, mostly from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, had called for a protest on February 13 to demand a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price for crops. The farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organization, and compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous 2020-21 agitation, among others. (With inputs from agencies)

Rahul Gandhi announces legal guarantees for MSP to farmers if INDIA alliance forms govt

The Government of India increased the minimum support prices for six rabi crops following protests by farmers and lawmakers over apprehensions that the new farm bills passed by the government would end the MSP&nbsp;

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has increased the MSP for wheat by Rs 50 per quintal to Rs 1,975, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in Parliament on September 21.

Narendra Singh Tomar said, "MSP was offered to farmers before, is in force now, and will remain in force in the future and government procurement will continue," adding that the government has not only increased MSP but also increased procurement at MSP to ensure remunerative prices to farmers.&nbsp; 
 
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The announcement comes hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that MSP for farm products will continue under the new legislations, allaying farmers concerns that the practice may come to an end following the passage of the bills.

MSP is a price at which the government procures crops from farmers, when the market prices fall below it due to high supplies.

The MSP of wheat has been hiked by Rs50 per quintal to Rs1, 975 per quintal, union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. MSP of gram has been hiked at an annual growth rate of 8.3%, MSP of rapeseed and mustard has been hiked by 7 %, and that of barley has been increased by 5.7%.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Government of India increased the minimum support prices for six rabi crops following protests by farmers and lawmakers over apprehensions that the new farm bills passed by the government would end the MSP The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has increased the MSP for wheat by Rs 50 per quintal to Rs 1,975, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in Parliament on September 21.

The Government of India increased the minimum support prices for six rabi crops following protests by farmers and lawmakers over apprehensions that the new farm bills passed by the government would end the MSP The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has increased the MSP for wheat by Rs 50 per quintal to Rs 1,975, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in Parliament on September 21. Narendra Singh Tomar said, "MSP was offered to farmers before, is in force now, and will remain in force in the future and government procurement will continue," adding that the government has not only increased MSP but also increased procurement at MSP to ensure remunerative prices to farmers. The announcement comes hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that MSP for farm products will continue under the new legislations, allaying farmers concerns that the practice may come to an end following the passage of the bills. MSP is a price at which the government procures crops from farmers, when the market prices fall below it due to high supplies. The MSP of wheat has been hiked by Rs50 per quintal to Rs1, 975 per quintal, union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. MSP of gram has been hiked at an annual growth rate of 8.3%, MSP of rapeseed and mustard has been hiked by 7 %, and that of barley has been increased by 5.7%. (With inputs from agencies)

Centre hikes Minimum Support Price on rabi crops amid protests on Farm Bills

The Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, an umbrella body of 110 farmers' organisations, on Monday said it would not supply farm products such as vegetables, grains and milk to cities across the country for 10 days from June 1 in protest against what it called the anti-farmer policies of the Central government.&nbsp

A nation-wide Bharat bandh would be held on June 10 till 2 pm, the group's leaders, including former BJP minister Yashwant Sinha, told the media here.

"Farmers would stop sending from villages to cities produce such as crops, vegetables and milk from June 1 to June 10 all over the country. On June 6 they would observe a non-cooperation day," Sinha said.

They also claimed that though the government had promised a minimum support price (MSP) that was to be 50 per cent higher than the cost of production, farmers were yet to receive the higher prices.

The farmers' organisations demanded that the MSP be increased to the cost of production plus 50 per cent and a complete loan waiver from the government.&nbsp

We have been demanding that MSP be 1.5 times the entire cost of production including the cost of land. Though the government had declared it in their last budget there is no specifications and it is not going to help us," said Shiv Kumar Kakka, a farmer leader from Madhya Pradesh.

The organisations said by the cost of production, they meant C2 and not A2+FL.

A2 includes expenses, in cash and kind, incurred on seeds, fertilisers, chemicals, labour, fuel and irrigation, while A2+FL covers actual costs plus the value of unpaid family labour. C2 denotes A2+FL, along with costs for rentals and interest forgone on owned land and fixed capital assets respectively.

While congratulating the farmers' long march in Maharashtra led by Left parties last month, Sinha lambasted the government for making "false promises".

The promises and slogans of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were all a farce and the government was doing nothing to help farmers, he said.&nbsp

"I can say that the Modi government has done nothing for them, not even fulfilled the promises written in the BJP manifesto. Whatever he (Modi) is promising is all a farce," Sinha said.

The farmers also urged traders' organisations to support their June 10 Bharat bandh.&nbsp

A nation-wide Bharat bandh would be held on June 10 till 2 pm, the group's leaders, including former BJP minister Yashwant Sinha, told the media

The Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, an umbrella body of 110 farmers' organisations, on Monday said it would not supply farm products such as vegetables, grains and milk to cities across the country for 10 days from June 1 in protest against what it called the anti-farmer policies of the Central government. A nation-wide Bharat bandh would be held on June 10 till 2 pm, the group's leaders, including former BJP minister Yashwant Sinha, told the media here. "Farmers would stop sending from villages to cities produce such as crops, vegetables and milk from June 1 to June 10 all over the country. On June 6 they would observe a non-cooperation day," Sinha said. They also claimed that though the government had promised a minimum support price (MSP) that was to be 50 per cent higher than the cost of production, farmers were yet to receive the higher prices. The farmers' organisations demanded that the MSP be increased to the cost of production plus 50 per cent and a complete loan waiver from the government. We have been demanding that MSP be 1.5 times the entire cost of production including the cost of land. Though the government had declared it in their last budget there is no specifications and it is not going to help us," said Shiv Kumar Kakka, a farmer leader from Madhya Pradesh. The organisations said by the cost of production, they meant C2 and not A2+FL. A2 includes expenses, in cash and kind, incurred on seeds, fertilisers, chemicals, labour, fuel and irrigation, while A2+FL covers actual costs plus the value of unpaid family labour. C2 denotes A2+FL, along with costs for rentals and interest forgone on owned land and fixed capital assets respectively. While congratulating the farmers' long march in Maharashtra led by Left parties last month, Sinha lambasted the government for making "false promises". The promises and slogans of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were all a farce and the government was doing nothing to help farmers, he said. "I can say that the Modi government has done nothing for them, not even fulfilled the promises written in the BJP manifesto. Whatever he (Modi) is promising is all a farce," Sinha said. The farmers also urged traders' organisations to support their June 10 Bharat bandh.

Farmers to stop supplies from June 1-10: Kisan Mahasangh

In an apparent attack on opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said confusion is being spread about the budget decision to fix MSP for crops, at least 1.5 times the production cost, and assured farmers that all major costs incurred will be included while declaring the support price.

The Centre is already working with state governments to ensure that farmers get the benefit of the declared Minimum Support Price (MSP), he said.

Addressing a three-day Krishi Unnati Mela 2018 here, Modi also appealed to farmers not to burn crop residues so as to curb pollution.

Besides, he asked farmers to grow more oilseeds to reduce dependence on import of cooking oil as also to cut urea consumption by at least half by 2022.

In the Union Budget 2018-19, the government took a decision to ensure right prices to farmers for their produce, he said.

It has decided that for all notified crops, MSP will be at least one and a half times the cost, Modi said.

Many people are &quot;spreading confusion and creating atmosphere of despair&quot; regarding the government&#39;s MSP decision, he said while sharing the detail of components to be considered while determining the cost of production for fixing the support price.

&quot;The cost of production will include elements such as hired labour, expenses on their own or rented machinery as well as livestock, cost of seeds and fertilisers, expenses on irrigation, revenue being given to state government, interest on working capital, and rent of leased land among others,&quot; he said.

It will also include labour put by farmers and their family, he said. &quot;This is an important decision related to income of hardworking farmers.&quot;

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that the government will consider A2+FL which includes paid out costs on inputs and imputed value of family labour. However, a section of farmers&#39; organisations have been demanding the comprehensive cost (C2) that also includes imputed rent and interest on owned land and capital, over and above A2+FL.

After the Prime Minister&#39;s speech today, when contacted, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand said, &quot;What the PM talked about was A2+FL. He shared the components of the cost. It is a comprehensive subject and not many people know about it. The PM tried to explain in detail.&quot;

Stating that the government is working to strengthen agri-marketing in a big way, Modi said the efforts are being made to link rural mandis to APMC wholesale markets to global market to enhance farmers income.

In the recent Budget, Grameen Retail Agriculture Markets have been envisaged. 22,000 rural haats will be upgraded with necessary infrastructure, and integrated with APMC and the e-NAM platform, he said.

Farmers can market their produce in a better way through Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs), which has been exempted from income tax, on the lines of cooperative societies, in the Budget, he added.

Modi, who also launched e-marketing portal for organic products, said this platform is a new chapter in agri-marketing reform. This will be a huge benefit to farmers.

To reduce input costs, the government has taken various steps like soil health card and neem coating of urea besides completing pending irrigation projects with an outlay of Rs 80,000 crore.

Stating that the farm sector is facing challenges affecting farmers income, he said, the government is working with a holistic approach to deal with these challenges and is committed to double farmers income by 2022 and making their lives easier.

He pitched for beekeeping, solar farming, organic farming, bamboo cultivation and biowaste management to supplement income and also appealed farmers to stop crop burning by adopting farm machineries.

For the farmers&#39; welfare, Modi said that the centre has framed many model acts and urged the states to implement them.

&quot;Government is making all out efforts to ensure that farmers get latest seeds, required electricity, do not face any problem in market access and get right prices for their produce,&quot; Modi said.

He inaugurated the Jaivik Kheti (organic farming) portal and laid the foundation stone of 25 KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) taking the total centres to 700 in India. He also conferred the Krishi Karman Award and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya Krishi Vigyan Protsahan Puruskar.

More than 800 stalls have been set up by the central and state governments and various other organisations in this fair.

The fair is showcasing ways to enhance farmers&#39; income through theme pavilions like micro irrigation, neem-coated urea, soil check/health card, reducing input costs through less use of fertiliser, effectiveness of crop insurance scheme and new dimensions of income generation such as animal husbandry, bee keeping and poultry farming.&nbsp;

In the Union Budget 2018-19, the government took a decision to ensure right prices to farmers for their produce, he said.

In an apparent attack on opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said confusion is being spread about the budget decision to fix MSP for crops, at least 1.5 times the production cost, and assured farmers that all major costs incurred will be included while declaring the support price. The Centre is already working with state governments to ensure that farmers get the benefit of the declared Minimum Support Price (MSP), he said. Addressing a three-day Krishi Unnati Mela 2018 here, Modi also appealed to farmers not to burn crop residues so as to curb pollution. Besides, he asked farmers to grow more oilseeds to reduce dependence on import of cooking oil as also to cut urea consumption by at least half by 2022. In the Union Budget 2018-19, the government took a decision to ensure right prices to farmers for their produce, he said. It has decided that for all notified crops, MSP will be at least one and a half times the cost, Modi said. Many people are "spreading confusion and creating atmosphere of despair" regarding the government's MSP decision, he said while sharing the detail of components to be considered while determining the cost of production for fixing the support price. "The cost of production will include elements such as hired labour, expenses on their own or rented machinery as well as livestock, cost of seeds and fertilisers, expenses on irrigation, revenue being given to state government, interest on working capital, and rent of leased land among others," he said. It will also include labour put by farmers and their family, he said. "This is an important decision related to income of hardworking farmers." Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that the government will consider A2+FL which includes paid out costs on inputs and imputed value of family labour. However, a section of farmers' organisations have been demanding the comprehensive cost (C2) that also includes imputed rent and interest on owned land and capital, over and above A2+FL. After the Prime Minister's speech today, when contacted, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand said, "What the PM talked about was A2+FL. He shared the components of the cost. It is a comprehensive subject and not many people know about it. The PM tried to explain in detail." Stating that the government is working to strengthen agri-marketing in a big way, Modi said the efforts are being made to link rural mandis to APMC wholesale markets to global market to enhance farmers income. In the recent Budget, Grameen Retail Agriculture Markets have been envisaged. 22,000 rural haats will be upgraded with necessary infrastructure, and integrated with APMC and the e-NAM platform, he said. Farmers can market their produce in a better way through Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs), which has been exempted from income tax, on the lines of cooperative societies, in the Budget, he added. Modi, who also launched e-marketing portal for organic products, said this platform is a new chapter in agri-marketing reform. This will be a huge benefit to farmers. To reduce input costs, the government has taken various steps like soil health card and neem coating of urea besides completing pending irrigation projects with an outlay of Rs 80,000 crore. Stating that the farm sector is facing challenges affecting farmers income, he said, the government is working with a holistic approach to deal with these challenges and is committed to double farmers income by 2022 and making their lives easier. He pitched for beekeeping, solar farming, organic farming, bamboo cultivation and biowaste management to supplement income and also appealed farmers to stop crop burning by adopting farm machineries. For the farmers' welfare, Modi said that the centre has framed many model acts and urged the states to implement them. "Government is making all out efforts to ensure that farmers get latest seeds, required electricity, do not face any problem in market access and get right prices for their produce," Modi said. He inaugurated the Jaivik Kheti (organic farming) portal and laid the foundation stone of 25 KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) taking the total centres to 700 in India. He also conferred the Krishi Karman Award and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya Krishi Vigyan Protsahan Puruskar. More than 800 stalls have been set up by the central and state governments and various other organisations in this fair. The fair is showcasing ways to enhance farmers' income through theme pavilions like micro irrigation, neem-coated urea, soil check/health card, reducing input costs through less use of fertiliser, effectiveness of crop insurance scheme and new dimensions of income generation such as animal husbandry, bee keeping and poultry farming.

Confusion being spread about support price to farmers: PM

MS Swaminathan, who is thought of as one of the chief architects of India&#39;s &quot;green revolution&quot;, said Friday that it was &quot;better later than never&quot; that the government was now offering farmers an MSP of 1.5 times the cost of production of their kharif crops.&nbsp;

&quot;Farmers will be more happy,&quot; Swaminathan added.&nbsp;

The announcement had been made Thursday by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/as-expected-budget-2018-friendly-to-farmers-big-on-health-stocks-fall-31454" target="_blank">Budget speech</a>.&nbsp;

MSP or minimum support price is the price the government buys farmers&#39; crops at.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/not-possible-to-double-farmers-incomes-by-2022-manmohan-singh-31556" target="_blank">Not possible to double farmers&#39; incomes by 2022, says Manmohan Singh</a>

Swaminathan added that the formula had been recommended to the government over 10 years ago.&nbsp;

&quot;Budget says that crops for which MSP is not announced, they will have MSP at 1.5 times cost of production. I am happy that after over 10 years that we recommended this formula,govt has accepted it. Better late than never. Farmers will be more happy,&quot; Swaminathan said.&nbsp;

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Budget says that crops for which MSP is not announced, they will have MSP at 1.5 times cost of production. I am happy that after over 10 years that we recommended this formula,govt has accepted it. Better late than never. Farmers will be more happy: M.S. Swaminathan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Budget2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Budget2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/7MmOOuODBq">pic.twitter.com/7MmOOuODBq</a>
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'Farmers will be more happy,' Swaminathan said

MS Swaminathan, who is thought of as one of the chief architects of India's "green revolution", said Friday that it was "better later than never" that the government was now offering farmers an MSP of 1.5 times the cost of production of their kharif crops. "Farmers will be more happy," Swaminathan added. The announcement had been made Thursday by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget speech. MSP or minimum support price is the price the government buys farmers' crops at. Also read: Not possible to double farmers' incomes by 2022, says Manmohan Singh Swaminathan added that the formula had been recommended to the government over 10 years ago. "Budget says that crops for which MSP is not announced, they will have MSP at 1.5 times cost of production. I am happy that after over 10 years that we recommended this formula,govt has accepted it. Better late than never. Farmers will be more happy," Swaminathan said. Budget says that crops for which MSP is not announced, they will have MSP at 1.5 times cost of production. I am happy that after over 10 years that we recommended this formula,govt has accepted it. Better late than never. Farmers will be more happy: M.S. Swaminathan #Budget2018 pic.twitter.com/7MmOOuODBq — ANI (@ANI) February 2, 2018 ×

Better later than never: MS Swaminathan on MSP at 1.5 times cost of production