Dehradun, May 28 — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the recent hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif crops and the continuation of interest subsidies on agricultural loans, calling these measures a significant gift from the Modi government to farmers.
Mahendra Bhatt, State President and Rajya Sabha MP, praised the government’s efforts, saying that MSP is now set at 50 percent above the cost of production. He expressed confidence that these steps will accelerate the goal of doubling farmers’ income in the near future.
Bhatt appreciated the Union Cabinet’s recent decisions regarding the agriculture sector and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the support extended to farmers. He emphasized that these moves demonstrate the government’s commitment to the welfare and prosperity of the farming community.
The MSP increase covers 14 crops, including paddy, jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, arhar, moong, and urad. Bhatt noted that the rise in prices will benefit farmers across the country, including those in Uttarakhand.
Additionally, Bhatt applauded the continuation of the revised interest subsidy scheme for the fiscal year 2025-26. This scheme allows farmers to access loans under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) program at a subsidized interest rate of 4 percent. The benefit also applies to loans up to Rs 2 lakh for animal husbandry and fisheries. Currently, more than 7.75 crore KCCs are active nationwide, many of which belong to farmers in Uttarakhand who are enjoying these benefits.
Bhatt stressed that the government’s clear objective is to raise farmers’ income and make agriculture more profitable. He expressed hope that the promise of doubling farmers’ income will soon be realized.
On a state level, Bhatt praised the Dhami Cabinet’s decision to amend procurement rules to boost local employment. The new rules allow work contracts worth up to Rs 10 crore to be allocated to local individuals, creating more jobs and encouraging self-employment. He also welcomed the policy to give purchase preference to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), describing it as a progressive step to promote local businesses and products.
