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NITI Aayog’s Chand urges farmers to shift to non-msp crops for self-reliance
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Saturday, 13 December, 2025, 13 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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At the recently held Rural Voice Agriculture Conclave and Awards 2025, Ramesh Chand called upon Indian farmers to increasingly adopt crops not covered under the government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime, arguing that such a shift is key to achieving true self-reliance and promoting a robust, market-driven food system.
Addressing the gathering, Chand noted that over the past decade, crops under the MSP umbrella had registered a growth rate of only 1.8 per cent, while crops outside MSP saw a faster expansion of about 4 per cent. He emphasised that farmers should no longer depend solely on MSP guarantees — instead they should align cultivation with evolving consumer demand, and migrate toward crops that fetch higher market value and meet changing dietary patterns.
Chand argued that while government support has its role, “true self-reliance comes when farmers themselves take initiative in crop choices and farming practices” rather than relying exclusively on assured support prices.
He further highlighted that cultivating non-MSP crops could unlock new opportunities in India’s growing, affluent consumer segment provided the entire value chain from seed to market is strengthened. This, he said, requires greater focus on innovation, market linkages, and infrastructure rather than subsidies alone.
Several agricultural experts present at the conclave echoed his views. They stressed that for diversification to succeed, policies must shift from subsidy-based support to incentive-driven, market-oriented frameworks. With rising incomes and changing dietary preferences across the country, such structural reforms can help farmers realise better returns while reducing over-dependence on a handful of staple MSP crops.
As India seeks to modernise agriculture and reduce risks posed by overproduction and price distortions, Chand’s call is being seen as a strong push for a paradigm shift from price-guarantee farming to demand-led, diversified cultivation that could redefine farm economics and farmer prosperity.
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