The government has announced higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for six mandated Rabi crops for the 2027–28 marketing season, providing farmers with increased price support for the upcoming agricultural cycle. The revised rates are intended to help farmers receive better returns and encourage crop diversification.
Under the revised structure, the highest increase is for safflower, while rapeseed and mustard and lentils have also received substantial hikes.
New MSP Rates for Rabi Crops
The approved MSP rates for the 2027–28 marketing season are:
| Crop | MSP per quintal | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat | ₹2,610 | ₹25 |
| Barley | ₹2,286 | ₹136 |
| Gram | ₹5,958 | ₹83 |
| Lentil (Masur) | ₹7,390 | ₹390 |
| Rapeseed and Mustard | ₹6,613 | ₹413 |
| Safflower | ₹7,215 | ₹675 |
Safflower has received the largest increase of ₹675 per quintal compared with the previous marketing season. Rapeseed and mustard follow with a rise of ₹413, while lentil prices have increased by ₹390 per quintal.
Government Estimates ₹90,962 Crore in Farmer Payments
The government estimates that approximately ₹90,962 crore will be paid to farmers for around 324 lakh metric tonnes of produce during the Rabi Marketing Season 2027–28.
MSP is designed to provide a measure of price assurance to farmers and support decisions about crop selection and agricultural investment. Actual procurement and payments depend on the applicable procurement arrangements and eligibility requirements.
How MSP Supports Farmers
The MSP system aims to protect farmers from sharp market-price fluctuations by announcing minimum support prices for specified crops. The government also considers production costs, including inputs, equipment depreciation, working-capital interest and family labour, when calculating MSP.
The latest rates maintain the policy of setting MSP at least 50% above the estimated cost of production across the mandated crops, according to the government’s published figures.
What Farmers Should Know
Farmers planning their Rabi crop cycle can use the revised MSP figures as one factor when making cultivation decisions. However, an announced MSP does not automatically mean that every farmer will sell all produce at that price.
Farmers should check procurement arrangements, registration requirements and local purchasing details with the relevant authorities before relying on MSP procurement for their expected income.
