The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, took two historic decisions on Wednesday on the eve of Dussehra during the auspicious Navratri festival. Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the Cabinet has approved the ‘National Pulses Mission’ and simultaneously increased the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for rabi crops.

Shri Chouhan expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister on behalf of farmers, noting that these decisions will have long-term positive impacts on food and nutritional security, farmers’ welfare, and agricultural production. He said the government has aligned resources and schemes with farmers’ interests as its top priority, underlining the Modi government’s sensitivity towards farmers.

The ‘National Pulses Mission’ aims to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses, enhance nutrition, and raise farmer incomes. Its target is to increase the production of pulses from 24.2 million tonnes in 2024–25 to 35 million tonnes by 2030–31. Special production and expansion programmes will be implemented in 416 districts, covering rice fallow areas, best breeder/foundation/certified seeds, intercropping, irrigation, market linkages, and technical support. The procurement of tur, urad, and lentils at MSP will be ensured at 100%, guaranteeing farmers full returns.

The Mission has been allocated a budget of ₹11,440 crore for 2025–26.

The MSP for rabi crops, including wheat, has also been significantly increased, with farmers assured of up to 109% returns over cost. Shri Chouhan said these historic decisions will strengthen farmers’ incomes, dignity, and national food and nutrition security. He assured that the MSP policy, the Pulses Mission, and other schemes will be implemented with full transparency, scientific rigor, and farmer welfare in focus.

The MSP increases are as follows: safflower by ₹600 per quintal, lentils by ₹300, rapeseed and mustard by ₹250, chana by ₹225, barley by ₹170, and wheat by ₹160.

MSP for Rabi crops, marketing season 2026–27 (₹/quintal):

The MSP hikes are in line with the commitment in Union Budget 2018–19 to set MSPs at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.

Shri Chouhan highlighted that compared to 2014–15, MSPs have more than doubled during the Modi government’s tenure: wheat rose from ₹1400 to ₹2585 per quintal, barley from ₹1100 to ₹2150, gram (chana) from ₹3100 to ₹5875, lentils from ₹2950 to ₹7000, rapeseed/mustard from ₹3050 to ₹6200, and safflower from ₹3000 to ₹6540.

“These historic decisions reflect the central government’s farmer-first approach and mark decisive steps to enhance farmer incomes,” Shri Chouhan said, adding that farmers’ welfare remains the Modi government’s foremost priority.

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RC/KSR/AR