New Delhi,(IANS) The government Tuesday fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the rabi crop (sown in winter) of wheat at Rs.1,000 per quintal for the current fiscal and imposed a temporary ban on export of rice.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday, “accepted the recommendations of the agriculture ministry”, said union Finance minister P. Chidambaram after the meeting.
Similarly the MSP for rice/paddy has been increased – for common grade rice at Rs.695 per quintal and for A grade rice at Rs.725 per quintal.
Simultaneously, the government has imposed a “temporary ban with immediate effect on export of rice of all grades”, the finance minister said.
He said: “Since the off-take of rice has doubled in the last five years, this is being done to ensure adequate quantity of rice for our Public Distribution System (PDS) and other welfare schemes.”
The ban may be lifted soon after the procurement target is fulfilled, he indicated
The MSP was also fixed for for barley at Rs.650; for gram at Rs.1,600; for masoor at Rs.1,700; rapeseed/mustard at Rs.1,800 and safflower at Rs.1,650, said the minister.