Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today expressed his profound gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for approving a significant increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the upcoming 2025-26 marketing season. The Chief Minister lauded the decision as a “significant step” towards empowering farmers and fostering agricultural growth across the nation.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shri Majhi highlighted that this move is well-aligned with the broader vision of achieving a #ViksitBharat (Developed India) by 2047. He emphasized the transformative potential of the MSP hike, particularly for farmers in Odisha, where agriculture forms a crucial backbone of the economy, and paddy is the dominant Kharif crop.
The central government’s decision aims to ensure that farmers receive fair remuneration for their produce, providing a crucial safety net against fluctuating market prices and surplus stocks. For an agrarian state like Odisha, which has historically faced challenges such as inadequate procurement infrastructure and the presence of middlemen, this policy is expected to bring much-needed financial stability to its large farming community.
While welcoming the increased MSP, the Chief Minister underscored the importance of sustained efforts in procurement, infrastructure development, and technology adoption to ensure that the benefits truly reach small and marginal farmers on the ground. The latest hike in MSP for paddy, by ₹69 per quintal to ₹2,369 for common grade paddy, is particularly significant for Odisha’s farmers. Other Kharif crops including ragi, bajra, pulses, and oilseeds also saw substantial increases.
This move by the central government, and the positive reaction from the Chief Minister, Shri Majhi signals a strong commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers in the state and nationwide.