AI-written summary of reporting by The Times of India. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

Farmer organisations under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha umbrella have rejected the government's minimum support prices for Rabi crops for 2027-28, announced on Sept 30, calling the Rs 25-per-quintal increase for wheat, equivalent to 25 paise per kg, an "insult". The organisations sought immediate revision of MSPs for all Rabi crops and freedom for states to provide bonuses.

The Times of India

Samyukta Kisan Morcha rejects Rabi crop support prices, calls wheat hike an 'insult'

Samyukta Kisan Morcha rejects Rabi crop support prices, calls wheat hike an 'insult'
Oct 4, 2026, 4:52 PM

Farmer organisations under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha umbrella have rejected the government's minimum support prices for Rabi crops for 2027-28, announced on Sept 30, calling the Rs 25-per-quintal increase for wheat, equivalent to 25 paise per kg, an "insult". The organisations sought immediate revision of MSPs for all Rabi crops and freedom for states to provide bonuses.

Context

Wheat's MSP rose less than 1%, from Rs 2,585 to Rs 2,610 per quintal, according to the source. Safflower received the largest increase of Rs 675 per quintal, followed by rapeseed and mustard at Rs 413. Lentil rose Rs 390, barley Rs 136 and gram Rs 83.

The Centre said the MSPs reflected deficient monsoon rainfall and encouraged lower water-consuming oilseeds, pulses and coarse grain.

SKM alleged the Centre and the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices had bulldozed states' recommendations and ignored rising diesel and input costs. It sought a rollback of diesel price increases, saying rates had risen about Rs 7.5 a litre.

Agriculture expert Sudhir Panwar said the hike was actually below input-cost inflation.

All Perspectives
Samyukta Kisan Morcha: "The 25 paise a kilo is not a price it is an insult...Yet govt calls it a 106% profit (return over the cost of production)," SKM said. The umbrella of farmer organisations rejected the MSPs for Rabi crops for 2027-28, sought immediate revision of MSPs for all Rabi crops and freedom for states to provide bonuses, and alleged the Centre and the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices bulldozed states' recommendations and ignored rising diesel and input costs. It sought a rollback of diesel price increases, saying rates had risen about Rs 7.5 a litre.
Centre: The Centre said the MSPs reflected deficient monsoon rainfall and encouraged lower water-consuming oilseeds, pulses and coarse grain.
Sudhir Panwar, agriculture expert: Panwar said the hike was actually below input-cost inflation.
Gaps & Unknowns
  • The source does not state the year in which the MSP announcement was made, describing the date only as Sept 30.
  • The source does not state how many farmer organisations make up the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.
  • The source does not state the basis for the 106% return-over-cost-of-production figure it attributes to the government.
  • The source does not state the period over which diesel rates rose by about Rs 7.5 a litre, or the baseline price used.
  • The source does not state whether the Centre responded to SKM's demands for an MSP revision or a diesel price rollback.
  • The source does not state Sudhir Panwar's institutional affiliation beyond describing him as an agriculture expert.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. The Times of India — original

Read the original at The Times of India

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