The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India increased the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 2017 Kharif crops, now being planted and to be harvested from September onwards. The Government raised the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of rice, the main Kharif crop, by 5 percent or INR 80 (USD 1.24) to INR 1 550 (USD 24) per quintal for common (non-basmati) grade variety and to INR 1 590 (USD 25) per quintal for A grade variety. The MSP of maize was increased by 7 percent or INR 60 (USD 0.93) to INR 1 425 (USD 22) per quintal. MSPs for cotton, pulses and oilseeds were also raised substantially. The MSPs are the prices at which the Federal Government buys food grains from farmers, with the aim to boost domestic production and ensure remunerative prices to farmers.