New Delhi, May 14 -- The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the increase in the minimum support prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season, with a payout of Rs.2.6 lakh crore to farmers. The decision was taken based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). According to an official release, the increase in MSP for Kharif crops is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing MSP at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. According to the government, the estimated margin over cost of production is highest for moong at 61%, followed by bajra and maize at 56% each, and tur/arhar at 54%. For the remaining crops, the margin is estimated at 50%. "A key decision was taken in 2019 to ensure farmers receive a fair return for their labour. The Prime Minister had decided that MSP would be fixed at least 50% above the cost of production," Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while briefing the media on Cabinet decisions. "The CACP estimates the cost of the crop properly by taking into account multiple factors like inflation." Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the decision. In a series of posts on X, Modi said to safeguard the interests of the farmer brothers and sisters across the country and increase their income, the NDA government is continuously taking important decisions. "In this direction, our government has approved an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for kharif crops for the marketing season 2026-27. This decision will ensure that crores of food providers in the country receive fair and profitable prices for their produce, while bringing greater prosperity to their lives," he said. According to the Cabinet presentation, the government expects annual procurement of 824.41 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) under the MSP regime. The MSP for common paddy has been fixed at Rs.2,441 per quintal, while Grade A paddy will be procured at Rs.2,461 per quintal. Among pulses, tur (arhar) MSP has been set at Rs.8,450 per quintal, moong at Rs.8,780 and urad at Rs.8,200. For oilseeds, the MSP for groundnut has been fixed at Rs.7,517 per quintal, sunflower seed at Rs.8,343, soybean at Rs.5,708 and sesame at Rs.10,346 per quintal. The government said it has been promoting cultivation of pulses, oilseeds and nutri-cereals or Shree Anna in recent years by offering higher MSP for these crops. It also highlighted a rise in procurement and MSP payouts over the last decade. Paddy procurement during 2014-15 to 2025-26 stood at 8,418 LMT, compared to 4,590 LMT during 2004-05 to 2013-14. Procurement of all 14 Kharif crops rose from 4,679 LMT in 2004-05 to 2013-14 to 8,746 LMT during 2014-15 to 2025-26. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Monday criticised the Rs.72 hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy for the upcoming kharif season, calling it "a cruel joke on the farmers." "The hike does not match the steep rise in input costs faced by the farmers. With inflation rising steadily, the Centre should have factored in input costs while fixing the MSP," Warring said....