{"id":336949,"date":"2025-05-17T09:00:05","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T03:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=336949"},"modified":"2025-05-20T11:40:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T06:10:18","slug":"day-9-prelims-20-indian-agriculture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/day-9-prelims-20-indian-agriculture\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 9 Prelims 20+: Indian Agriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"

In today\u2019s Prelims 20+<\/em>, we focus on Indian Agriculture \u2014 a cornerstone of the Indian economy and a recurring theme in UPSC Prelims. A strong grasp of agricultural patterns, cropping seasons, major crops and their climatic requirements is vital for tackling questions across geography, economy, environment, and current affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table of Content<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minimum Support Price (MSP)<\/a>
\nCropping Pattern<\/a>
\nCrop Classification<\/a>
\nMajor Food Crops of India
\nRice (Oryza sativa)<\/a><\/span>
\n<\/span>Wheat<\/a>
\nMaize<\/a>
\nMillets<\/a>
\nJowar (Sorghum)<\/a>
\nBarley<\/a>
\nPulses<\/a>
\nOilseeds<\/a>
\nCommercial Crops for Which MSP is awarded<\/span>
\nCotton (White-Gold)<\/a>
\nRaw Jute (Golden Fibre)<\/a>
\nSugarcane<\/a>
\nImportant Plantation Crops\/Commercial Crops (For which MSP is not Available)<\/span>
\nTea<\/a>
\nCoffee<\/a>
\nRubber<\/a>
\nCommodity Boards (Ministry of Commerce and Industry)<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Click here to download pdf of Indian Agriculture<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>Minimum Support Price (MSP)<\/h2>\n

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for a commodity refers to the<\/span> price at which the government is obligated to purchase the produce from farmers<\/span> in the event that the market price falls below this threshold.<\/span><\/p>\n

Process of awarding MSP<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. MSP is based on the recommendations of the <\/span>Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).<\/b> The CACP submits its recommendations to the government in the form of Price Policy Reports every year. It considers various factors such as cost of production, demand and supply, market price trends, inter-crop price parity.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The <\/span>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)<\/b> chaired by the Prime Minister of India takes the final decision (approve) on the level of MSPs, after considering the Price Policy Report, views of the state governments and overall demand-supply situation in the country.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Food Corporation of India (FCI)<\/b> is the nodal agency for procurement, along with State agencies, at the beginning of the sowing season.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    Important Facts about MSP<\/b>
    \n<\/span>a.<\/b> MSP in India is not legally backed- <\/b>The <\/span>government is not legally bound to pay the MSP<\/b> even when the open market rates fall below the floor rates set by the MSP. Farmers cannot demand it as a right.
    \n<\/span>b. CACP-<\/b> CACP is <\/span>not a statutory body<\/b>. It is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer\u2019s welfare. It only recommends the MSP with the government taking the final call on the value of MSP.<\/span>
    \n<\/span>c. Sugarcane is the Only crop with some legal backing of Price<\/b>– Fair and Remunerative Price set for Sugarcane, has to be paid to the farmers by the sugar mills, in accordance to Sugarcane (Control) Order 1966 issued under the Essential Commodities Act.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Different Production Costs Considered While Fixing MSP Regime<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
    A2<\/b><\/td>\nAll paid-out costs directly incurred by the farmer<\/b>, either in cash and kind, on\u00a0seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, hired labour, leased-in land, fuel, irrigation.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    A2+FL<\/b><\/td>\nImputed value of unpaid family labour\u00a0is\u00a0added\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0A2 cost\u00a0to derive A2+FL.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    C2<\/b><\/td>\nEstimated land rent\u00a0and\u00a0the cost of interest on the money taken for farming\u00a0is\u00a0added to A2+FL\u00a0to get the C2 production cost. It is a more comprehensive production cost.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    CACP reckons only to A2+FL cost for return. Currently, the MSP is fixed at 50% over the A2+FL cost.<\/span><\/p>\n

    MSP for Different Crops<\/b><\/p>\n

    Government fixes MSP for 22 mandated agricultural crops and Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Major Crops and Cropping Patterns<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/a>Cropping Pattern<\/h2>\n