Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday highlighted the positive impact of government policies on farmers’ incomes and stressed the need to support agriculture amid global market fluctuations.
Giving a concrete example, Gadkari said, “I will give you an example regarding the government’s decision to allow the production of bioethanol from corn. At that time, the market rate of corn was ₹1,200 per quintal, while the MSP (Minimum Support Price) set by the government was ₹1,800 per quintal. Farmers were facing significant economic problems because they were not receiving a reasonably good price for their crops... Today, across the country—particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other regions—corn cultivation has tripled due to the improved price.”
He also explained the role of international markets in domestic agriculture, adding, “In agriculture, farmers are not getting good prices. In the global economy, prices depend on international markets. Brazil determines the price of sugar, the U.S. determines the price of corn, oil prices are set by Malaysia, and soybean prices depend on Argentina. In this scenario, to protect our rural, agricultural, and tribal economy, it is essential to support agriculture.”
