❖ The Union Cabinet has approved an increase in the minimum support prices (MSP) for all 14 kharif crops for the 2024-25 crop season that runs from July to June.

❖ The highest increase came for oilseeds Niger seed and sesamum.

❖ The hike was by ₹983 and ₹632 and was fixed at ₹8,717 and at ₹9,267 per quintal, respectively.

❖ Pulses like tur or arhar (pigeon pea) also benefited from a big MSP hike by about ₹550 from last year to stand at ₹7,550 per quintal.

❖ In the case of oilseeds, groundnut, sunflower seed and yellow soy bean attracted a hike of ₹406, ₹520 and ₹292.

❖ The expected margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be the highest for bajra (77%) followed by tur (59%), maize (54%) and urad (52%)