After deficient rains last year in both the South-West and North-East monsoons which dampened agricultural output, a stalling monsoon this year has delayed sowing operations. Therefore, the Centre’s announcement of Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for the upcoming kharif is timely, ensuring that farmers have visibility on prices if not on yields. Hikes in MSP have been quite handsome for most crops at 6-13 per cent over the previous year.
