The Centre Government has increased the MSP (minimum support price) for paddy by Rs 100 per quintal and pulses by Rs 240 per quintal.

The increase in price was in line with the suggestions of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

The MSP for common variety of paddy will rise from Rs 850 to Rs 950 per quintal and the 'A' grade variety will go up from Rs 880 to Rs 980.

However, Minister of State for Food Supplies Sarada Prasad Nayak recommended the Center Government to revise the MSP for paddy for the sake of farmers in drought hit areas. He expressed his thoughts at the State Food Ministers' conference in New Delhi yesterday.

The paddy production will be effected this year as the monsoon is unpredictable. The Rs 100 hike is unacceptable because the condition this year is completely different from last year when Orissa had a bumper crop, Mr. Nayak added.

For the last 50-year's average rainfall, this year India has noted 27% less rainfall in the June 1- August 17 period. This turned out to be very costly for farmers as they had to replant paddy at least twice, spent heavy cost on diesel, water pumping, fertilizer and other requirements.