Mixed Trend in Market Prices of Rabi Crops

26-May-2026 11:54 AM

New Delhi. A mixed trend is currently being observed in the wholesale market prices of the five major crops produced during the Rabi season—wheat, barley, gram, lentil (Masur), and mustard—for which a Minimum Support Price (MSP) is fixed. Data from the government portal, Agmarknet, reveals that for two of these five commodities, market prices are trading 4-5 percent below the government's support price (MSP), while the prices of the other three are trading up to 14 percent above the MSP. The Rabi marketing season remains active from April to June.

According to official data, the average wholesale price of wheat in producer markets at the all-India level stands at ₹2,456 per quintal, which is approximately 5 percent below the Minimum Support Price of ₹2,585 per quintal. On the other hand, the average market price of barley has been assessed at ₹2,198 per quintal, which is 2 percent above its MSP of ₹2,150 per quintal. Maize is produced during both the Kharif and Rabi seasons. Its MSP for the 2025-26 season has been fixed at ₹2,400 per quintal, whereas the average wholesale market price is trading 21 percent lower—at ₹1,896 per quintal.

In the pulses category, the average wholesale market price of gram has been assessed at ₹5,656 per quintal, which is 4 percent below its MSP of ₹5,875 per quintal; however, the average wholesale market price of lentil (Masur) has been recorded at ₹7,075 per quintal, which is slightly above its Minimum Support Price of ₹7,000 per quintal.

Thus, the average wholesale market prices for wheat, gram, and maize are trading below their respective Minimum Support Prices, while the prices for barley, lentil, and mustard are trading above them. The MSP for mustard has been fixed at ₹6,200 per quintal this season, whereas its average wholesale market price is currently trading 14 percent higher—at ₹7,081 per quintal.