AP

Ayush PathakAIR 215· 2025

Question Q.13GS3GS3

Legalizing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) would create more challenges than it resolves.

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Main Body

Minimum Support Prices are the lower benchmarking of price support below which prices will not go to ensure remunerative prices for farmers. 23 crops have MSP support in India. Legalizing MSP creating challenges: (1) Athok Gulani highlighted the problem of inadequate crop diversification. eg: Wheat - Paddy MSP hike led to highscale production. (2) Issue of soil health degradation eg: N:P:K ratio at place Ideal4:2:1 Real9:3:1
3Increased similar demands by other sectors of farmers eg: Farm projects done by rich farmers promoting own profits. (4) High scale groundwater issue eg: Punjab / West UP → Groundwater led to table going down. (5) Right based remunerations is leading to higher revenue expenditure and reduced focus from capital expenditure on modernization. eg: only 45% agriculture is weather dependent. (6) MSP not reach the Small and Marginal farmers eg: 90% are Small and Marginal Farmers in India who sell in local markets. (7) Low stacking capacity of FCI eg: 120-60% food storage capacities [END]
However there are a few positives as well: (1) Increased assured income support for farmers. (2) Incentives for improved productivity. (3) Adopt technology and modernization to increase yield. (4) Rural population development through better incomes. Way forwardDiversification to high value crops eg: Horticulture 9-30% Agriculture GVA Localized market prices through support regime. Adoption of technology and increased capacities of existing APMCs. The profile like Digital Agriculture Mission through large of AgriTech act well instead towards unprecedented advantages and double income.
248 words1 paragraphs
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Topper

Ayush Pathak

AIR 2152025

Subject & Paper

GS3GS3

Topic

Agriculture and Food Security

Issues Related to Direct & Indirect Farm Subsidies & Minimum Support Prices

Issues Related to Direct & Indirect Farm Subsidies & Minimum Support Prices

Writing Stats

248

Total words

1

Paragraphs

analytical

Tone