The correct answer is (a) 23.
The Agricultural Cost and Price Commission of India (APMC) is an autonomous body set up by the Government of India in 1965 to advise the government on matters relating to agricultural prices, costs of production, and related issues. The APMC recommends minimum support prices (MSPs) for 23 crops, which are then announced by the government. The MSP is a price that the government guarantees to pay to farmers for their produce. This is done to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their produce and to protect them from exploitation by middlemen.
The 23 crops for which the APMC recommends MSPs are:
- Paddy
- Wheat
- Rice
- Maize
- Bajra
- Jowar
- Tur
- Urad
- Moong
- Gram
- Cotton
- Jute
- Sugarcane
- Groundnut
- Rapeseed and mustard
- Soybean
- Sunflower
- Potato
- Onion
- Tomato
- Chillies
- Garlic
- Ginger
The MSP is determined by taking into account a number of factors, including the cost of production, the market price of the crop, and the government’s policy objectives. The MSP is usually announced in the month of June, before the start of the sowing season.
The MSP has been a controversial issue in India, with some farmers arguing that it is not high enough to cover their costs of production. The government has responded to these concerns by increasing the MSP for some crops in recent years. However, the MSP is still not high enough to cover the costs of production for many farmers, especially those who are small and marginal farmers.
The MSP is an important tool for the government to support farmers and to ensure that they get a fair price for their produce. However, the MSP is not a perfect solution, and it is important to continue to find ways to improve the system.