NEW DELHI — To support agricultural incomes and offset rising production expenses, the Union Cabinet has cleared a revision in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 major Kharif crops for the 2026–27 marketing period.
Under the newly approved rates, standard paddy moves up to ₹2,441 per quintal. Pulses also saw notable revisions, with pigeon pea (tur dal) set at ₹8,450 per quintal and green gram (moong) reaching ₹8,780 per quintal. According to official statements, the price structure is designed to guarantee growers a profit margin of at least 50% above estimated cultivation expenses.
The cabinet decision introduces price adjustments across primary food grains, pulses, oilseeds, and commercial crops to ensure financial return ahead of the monsoon sowing window:
Paddy: The benchmark price for common paddy rises to ₹2,441 per quintal, while Grade A paddy receives a corresponding upward revision.
Pulses & Legumes: Alongside tur dal and moong, black gram (urad) saw an increase, positioning pulse cultivation as a highly lucrative option for growers this season.
Coarse Grains & Millets: Rates for coarse grains, including maize, pearl millet (bajra), and sorghum (jowar), were elevated to encourage farming of climate-resilient crops.
Oilseeds: Sunflower seeds and groundnuts witnessed upward price adjustments aimed at spurring domestic oilseed output.
The timing of the announcement aligns with the onset of the monsoon season, giving farmers clear pricing visibility before finalizing their crop choices.
Agricultural analysts point out that higher price guarantees for pulses and oilseeds are intended to encourage farmers to diversify their fields away from water-intensive crops. Officials confirmed that government procurement agencies will begin setting up operations to purchase crops at the revised floor prices once harvesting starts later this year.
