New Delhi: The Central Government has raised the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy marginally by Rs 72 per quintal to Rs 1,940 per quintal for the 2021-22 crop year, while the rates of other kharif crops were also hiked.
Announcing the decision after a meeting of the Union Cabinet headed by Narendra Modi, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said MSPs of paddy, tour daal, urad daal and bajra have been increased.
While the MSP of tour daal has been increased by 62 per cent, the MSP of Bajra has been increased to Rs 2,250 per quintal for the current year from Rs 2,150 per quintal last year, the minister said.
Dispelling apprehensions about MSP the minister further said: "MSP (on farm crops) is there, is being hiked and will continue in future as well".
The decisions of the Cabinet will give respite to farmers and also help them take a call on which Kharif (summer) crop to grow as sowing picks up with the arrival of southwest monsoon.
MSP is the minimum price at which the government procures agriculture commodities from farmers. Before every Kharif and Rabi season, the government announces new MSPs based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
Read More: 'MSP law could be the way to end the deadlock in the farmers' movement'
In an another major decision, the Union Cabinet gave its approval to provide 5 megahertz spectrum in 700 MHz band (4G spectrum) for the Indian Railways.
"Railways will be provided with 5 megahertz spectrum in 700 MHz band. It will improve its communication system and make rail travel safer. Railway currently uses optical fibre. With the availability of spectrum, there will be radio communication," Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters.
With the allocation of spectrum, the Indian Railways will be able to use high-speed radio on a real-time basis. It will also help in augmenting both communication and signalling networks of the railways and improves the passenger safety, the minister said.
In addition, Rs 25,000 crores will be spent in the next 5 years for signal modernization and 5G spectrum implementation in Railways, he added.
(With Agency Inputs)
