Archive · 4 Oct 2026
SKM Rejects Rabi MSP Hike, Calls for Village Protests
The government announced new prices it will pay for some winter crops.
The price for wheat went up by ₹25 per quintal.
Farmers' group SKM says that increase is too small and does not cover the costs it thinks should be counted.
It wants wheat prices to be based on a broader measure of farming costs, plus an extra 50%.
SKM also says that a promised price does not help farmers if the government does not buy their crops.
The group wants a law guaranteeing its requested prices and more government buying.
It asked farmers and rural youth to read out and burn copies of the price order and join protests.
The article does not include a government response to these criticisms.
The Union Cabinet approved MSPs for six rabi crops for the 2027-28 marketing season on September 30, 2026.
The wheat MSP rose by ₹25 to ₹2,610 per quintal.
SKM rejected the announced MSPs and said wheat should receive ₹3,418 per quintal under its C2+50% calculation.
SKM disputed the government's claim of a 106% return over production costs and criticized the cost calculation method.
SKM called for copies of the order to be burned in villages and for protests at district headquarters until a legal MSP guarantee is secured.
- Who
- The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), farmers and rural youth, and the Union government.
- What
- SKM rejected the announced rabi crop MSPs, called the wheat increase an insult, and called for village and district-level protests.
- When
- The government approved the MSPs on September 30, 2026; SKM issued its statement on Saturday. The article was published October 4, 2026.
- Where
- Across villages and at district headquarters in India.
- Why
- SKM says the MSPs do not meet its demand for prices based on comprehensive C2 production costs plus 50%, and criticizes the cost methodology and procurement levels.
SKM's position
Government's position
Wheat MSP increase and return
SKM's position
SKM called the ₹25-per-quintal wheat MSP increase an insult and disputed the government's claim of a 106% return over production costs. It says MSP should be based on C2 costs plus 50%.
Government's position
The government announced the new MSPs and said they provide a 106% return over production costs, according to SKM's account.
Cost formula and state recommendations
SKM's position
SKM says the calculation should include the comprehensive C2 cost, alleges that state price recommendations were ignored, and objects to the methodology used to estimate costs.
Government's position
The article reports the Centre's MSP decision but does not provide its response to SKM's objections or explain how it addressed state recommendations.
Procurement
SKM's position
SKM says an MSP without procurement is only a price on paper and demands government procurement of every crop in every state.
Government's position
The article provides no government response to SKM's procurement criticism.
- Marketing season
- 2027-28
- Wheat MSP announced
- ₹2,610 per quintal, up ₹25
- SKM's C2+50% wheat MSP calculation
- ₹3,418 per quintal
- SKM's corrected C2 cost for wheat
- ₹2,279 per quintal
- SKM's claimed gap from its C2+50% calculation
- ₹134 per quintal
- Cabinet approval date
- September 30, 2026
- SKM's protest call
- Read out and burn copies of the MSP order in villages, and join protests at district headquarters.