Major-producing states UP, MP had higher rates during all reported days
The average market prices of masur (lentil) in India have remained over the minimum support price (MSP) by 21.1% in the March-June 2022 period during the rabi marketing season (RMS) 2022-23. Lentil is a key rabi pulse crop of India along with chana (gram).
The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has stated in its ‘Price Policy for Rabi Crops: The Marketing Season 2023-24’ that market prices of lentil have showed an increasing trend since RMS 2018-19, but the prices were reported lower than MSP till March 2020. In RMS 2021-22, the average market price was reported at 11.3% higher than MSP.
The MSP for lentil for the RMS 2022-23 is Rs 5,500 per quintal. For the forthcoming RMS 2023-24, the Indian government has raised the MSP of lentil to Rs 6,000 per quintal — an increase of Rs 500.
The CACP has reported in its 2023-24 rabi price policy that the daily market prices of lentil in major producing states Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh during RMS 2022-23 have remained over the MSP. Market prices of lentil in UP have remained much above the MSP on all the reported days.
In the case of MP also, the market prices were above the MSP during the RMS 2022-23. In MP and UP, the average price difference with the MSP reported at 11.4% and 19.9% respectively during the RMS 2022-23.
Market prices vis-a-vis MSP of lentil in major producing states in RMS 2022-23 (March-June 2022)
| States | Number of days market prices reported | Number of days market prices were above or equal to MSP | Average difference (%) between market price and MSP |
| Madhya Pradesh | 122 | 0 | 11.4 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 122 | 0 | 19.9 |
Source: 1) AGMARKNET, Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, 2) Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
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