Does minimum support price supporting the farmers: A comparative study in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States

When the agricultural production is more, the price of the crops may fall drastically. To avoid such situation and to provide remunerative prices to the farmers for their crops which cover the expenses as well as some profit to the farmers, MSP was introduced by the government. The minimum support price is a guaranteed price provided by the government for the crops produced by farmers. Even after MSP farmer's economic conditions have not improved and deteriorating year by year as the number of farmers suicides are increasing. Many people are distancing themselves from farming activity as they feel it is nonprofitable and nonremunerative, which is likely to have drastic consequences on volume/Quantum of food production raising doubts on whether the MSP supporting or suffering the farmers. In this scenario, this paper attempts to know the opinions of farmers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh regions regarding various aspects of Minimum Support Price. Three regions of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh; (Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema) were selected for the study purpose.