On 3 October, the Ministry of Agriculture of India increased the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 2019 winter - Rabi - crops, currently being planted and to be harvested from March onwards. The MSP for wheat, the main Rabi crop, was increased by INR 105 or 6 percent from the previous season to INR 1 840 per quintal (about 248 USD per tonne), while the MSP for barley was increased by 2 percent to INR 1 440 per quintal (about 194 USD per tonne). MSPs for gram, lentils, rapeseed/mustard and safflower were also raised. The MSPs are the prices at which the federal government buys food grains from farmers, aimed to ensure farmers’ profits and boost production. Procurement at the new MSPs will begin in April.