Cabinet hikes MSP for 14 kharif crops for 2026-27 season; paddy support price up to ₹2,441/quintal

The Centre on Wednesday approved higher minimum support prices (MSPs) for 14 kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season, with the sharpest increase of ₹622 per quintal for sunflower seed.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government has continued with its policy of fixing MSP at least 50% above the cost of production to guarantee farmers a fair return.

"MSP has been fixed at cost plus 50% profit or even more for all major kharif crops," he said, adding that the decision would result in a total payout of around ₹2.6 lakh crore to farmers.

According to an official statement, MSP for common paddy, the main kharif crop, has been raised by ₹72 to ₹2,441 per quintal from ₹2,369 in the 2025-26 season.

MSP for tur (arhar) has been increased by ₹450 to ₹8,450 per quintal, urad by ₹400 to ₹8,200 per quintal, soybean by ₹380 to ₹5,708 per quintal and cotton by ₹557 to ₹8,267 per quintal for medium staple variety.

The government said the highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year has been recommended for sunflower seed, followed by cotton, nigerseed (₹515 per quintal) and sesamum (₹500 per quintal).

The MSP for maize has been marginally raised by ₹10 to ₹2,410 per quintal, while moong has been increased by ₹12 to ₹8,780 per quintal.

The government said the revised MSPs are in line with its 2018-19 Budget announcement to fix support prices at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.

The expected margin over cost of production is estimated to be highest in moong at 61%, followed by bajra and maize at 56% each, and tur at 54%.

The MSP for Grade A paddy has been fixed at ₹2,461 per quintal, while long staple cotton will fetch ₹8,667 per quintal.