Govt may form experts' panel to ensure farmers benefit from MSP scheme

The decision on an ideal mechanism to ensure maximum benefit to farmers might be announced ahead of the kharif sowing season in June

The government might constitute a committee of experts, either in the finance ministry or NITI Aayog or jointly to study all existing procurement models to ensure the largest possible number of farmers benefit from the heightened Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme announced in the Union Budget.

The new MSPs are promised at 1.5 times the production cost. These are expected to be calculated on the basis of what is termed A2+FL — this covers all paid-out expenses in both cash and kind, plus derived value of unpaid family labour. Not on the basis of what is termed C2; this is