In view of rising input costs, the government on Thursday announced Rs 170 per quintal hike in support price of paddy to farmers at Rs 1,250 for the 2012-13 crop year (July-June).

The minimum support price (MSP) of paddy and other Kharif (summer) crops has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), an highly placed source said after the CCEA meeting.

The MSP for common grade variety of paddy has been increased to Rs 1,250 per quintal from Rs 1,080 in the previous year.

Similarly, the support price for ‘A’ grade variety of paddy has been raised to Rs 1,280 per quintal from Rs 1,110.

The increase in the support price of paddy is in line with the recommendations made by the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices, which recommends the government on farm pricing policy.

Paddy is grown in both kharif and rabi season.

The Kharif sowing begins with the start of the south-west monsoon in June and harvesting that starts from October.

India produced a record 103.41 million tonnes of rice in the 2011-12 crop year.

Higher MSP has been announced to give better returns to paddy farmers, whose cost of cultivation has risen substantially due to rise in cost of labour, power and fertiliser.

CCS approves Rs 1,100 crore for NATGRID

Government on Thursday approved Rs 1,100 crore for purchase of technological equipment to kick-start the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) which plans to link 21 categories of databases for ready access by intelligence agencies.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, gave its nod to the proposal of NATGRID for acquisition of certain technological items mentioned in the Detailed Project Report (DPR), Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.

He said the proposal was for purchase of technological items for Horizon-I and some elements of Horizon-II of NATGRID.

NATGRID is conceptualised as a constantly evolving tool that will mature over several horizons with additional functionalities and enhancements over a period of time.

The NATGRID will have access to 21 categories of database like railway and air travel, income tax, bank account details, credit card transactions, visa and immigration records.

The project is expected to facilitate robust information sharing by security agencies and law enforcement agencies to combat terror threat.

As per the initial plan, access to the combined data will be given to 11 agencies, which include central intelligence agencies and the National Investigation Agency among others.

The idea was floated after the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

Many feel that had NATGRID existed, Lashkar-e- Taiba operative David Headley would not have a free run prior and after the 26/11 strike.

The CCS had approved the setting up of NATGRID on April 8, 2010.

As mandated by the CCS, a DPR on NATGRID was prepared. The CCS accorded its “in principle” approval to this DPR in on 6th June, 2011.