Central Government Hikes MSP to Boost Farmers’ Income and Support Sustainable Agriculture

The Government of India has taken a significant step to help farmers by declaring that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of the major crops will be increased in the next marketing season. This measure is expected to ensure farmers a reasonable price on their produce, gain more income, and decrease the risk factors related to the process of farming.

The hike in MSP, applicable to major rabi crops such as wheat, barley, gram, lentil, rapeseed, mustard, and safflower, reflects the government’s commitment to making agriculture more profitable and sustainable for millions of farmers across the country. For instance, MSP of wheat has increased by 160 per quintal and has reached 2,585 per quintal in the 2026-27 marketing season. This means the profit margin is over 100% (above the estimated production cost), offering solid assurance to wheat farmers.

Notably, not just wheat, crops like safflower have also seen the highest absolute increase of ₹600 per quintal, while pulses like lentil and gram have also seen meaningful hikes. Government data estimates that this MSP revision will channel approximately ₹84,000 crore directly to farmers, providing vital financial support ahead of the sowing season.

The MSP offers a safety net to farmers by ensuring that their crops command minimum prices to shield them against any price variations in the market. This policy also promotes crop diversification, i.e. growing oilseeds and pulses, which are important in nutritional security and minimising reliance on imports.

The initiative ties in with the larger “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses,” a government program focused on boosting domestic production of pulses, enhancing farmers’ access to quality seeds, and increasing supply chain efficiencies.

This MSP increase by the central government is timely, given that the agricultural risks like changing input prices and climate uncertainties that are currently increasing. The government is looking forward to empowering the farmers by promising remunerative prices that will boost rural incomes and bring about a sustainable agricultural economy, which will promote more self-reliance in farmers.

This price support is likely to benefit farmers in most of the major growing states such as Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan as they plan to head into the next crop cycle.

The policy is a timely and considerate move by the government that highlights the emphasis on farmers as essential food market players and rural development stakeholders of India.

For official updates on agriculture and MSP notification, check the official governmental channels of the Ministry of Agriculture.