The Government has approved the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for Kharif Crops for 2011-12 and decided to increase by 80 rupees per quintal for paddy to boost rice production. The MSP of common Paddy has been fixed at 1080 rupees per quintal, while that of Grade A Paddy will be 1110 rupees per quintal. An official release issued yesterday after a meeting of the Cabinet Committe on Economic Affiars says, the MSPs of Jowar (Hybrid), Bajra and Maize, each has been raised by 100 rupees per quintal and fixed at 980 rupees per quintal each. The MSP of Ragi has been fixed at 1050 rupees per quintal, raising it by 85 rupees per quintal over the last year’s MSP. The MSPs of Arhar, Moong and Urad have been increased by 200, 330 and 400 rupees and fixed at 3200, 3500 and 3300 rupees per quintal. Similarly, the support price of Groundnut-in-shell, Sunflowerseed and Sesamum have been increased by 400, 450 and 500 rupees per quintal, while the MSP of Cotton has been raised by 300 rupees and fixed at 2,800 rupees per quintal.