The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserted that the Union Cabinet’s approval of a significant increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for raw jute will be advantageous for numerous farmers in West Bengal. The BJP’s Information Technology (IT) cell Chief, Amit Malviya, highlighted that the MSP for raw jute (TD-3 grade) has been set at Rs 5,925 per quintal for the 2025-27 season, ensuring a 61.8% return over the all-India weighted average cost of production. Malviya praised the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare, emphasizing the Rs 275 per quintal rise as a testament to this dedication.
The MSP for raw jute has seen multiple increments since 2014, according to Malviya’s social media post. The National Democratic Alliance’s tenure has witnessed a nearly 2.5-fold increase in the MSP for jute, with Rs 1,342 crore directly disbursed to jute farmers between 2014 and 2026, a substantial surge compared to the previous decade. With West Bengal contributing over 80% of India’s jute production, the decision directly impacts numerous farmers and workers in the state, bolstering rural incomes and ensuring livelihoods.
The BJP’s move to raise the MSP of raw jute has been viewed as a strategic response to counter the Trinamool Congress’ allegations of the Centre’s plans to destabilize the jute sector. Last month, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member, Ritabrata Banerjee, criticized the Centre for neglecting the formulation of a raw jute stabilization policy, accusing it of lacking transparent release triggers and stock rotation norms linked to MSP procurement.
