India proposes 5-year MSP procurement plan for key crops to address farmers' protests

The Centre has proposed to buy cotton, maize, tur, urad, and masur directly from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP) for five years, without any quantitative limits. This proposal aims to address farmers' agitation over MSP enforcement. The procurement of these crops will be conducted through Nafed, NCCF, and Cotton Corporation. However, the government has not committed to enacting a law for MSP, a key demand of the farmers.

The proposal is a response to ongoing negotiations with protesting farmer unions and is part of a broader scheme initiated by the Cooperation Minister in January. This scheme included the opening of a registration portal for tur-growing farmers and the announcement of an assured purchase scheme for maize and all pulses, excluding chana and moong.

Farmers have been demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendation to set MSPs at 50 percent above the C2 costs of production. They also seek a law guaranteeing crop purchases at MSP, an unconditional pension for farmers above 60, and complete debt relief for farmers. The farmers have given the government a two-day deadline to respond to demands for debt waiver and implementation of land acquisition formula, threatening to resume their peaceful march to Delhi if their demands are not met by February 21.