The Pocket Book of Agricultural Statistics begun in 2013 as a quick reference guide for all the essential data relating to agricultural sector. This year's pocket book takes forward the continuous endeavor towards improving ready access to key data on agriculture and allied sector. The pocket book includes updated information on key indicators of agriculture and allied sector. In addition, this has been enriched with the status on various new initiatives of the Government, viz., Soil Health Card Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), micro irrigation, etc.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Crops Covered Under MSP, 20/03/2018. The prices of agricultural produce are determined by supply and demand conditions in the market on a day to day basis. The prices of Agricultural produce tend to fall after the harvest season due to increase in market arrival of new crop in a lumpy manner. The MSPs and all India average monthly wholesale prices of major agricultural commodities are given at Annexure. The wholesale prices of Kardiseed and Sunflower seed have remained below MSP during 2014-15 to 2017-18.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Growth Rate in Agriculture Sector, 02/01/2018. The details / estimates on Gross State Value Added (GSVA) for Agriculture and Allied Sector are compiled and released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) with the coordination of the States/UTs in the country. The State-wise details of the latest GSVA for agriculture & allied sector (at constant 2011-12 prices) and its rate of growth are given at Annexure- I (A) & Annexure- I (B) respectively.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on MSP for Agricultural Produce, 19/12/2017. Government has increased the MSPs of various agricultural produces for 2017-18 season. Details are at Annexure. There is no further proposal for this year in this regard.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Increase in Minimum Support Price, 19/12/2017. For Rabi crops 2017-18, the Government has increased the MSP of wheat to Rs. 1735 per quintal in 2017-18 as compared to Rs. 1625 per quintal in 2016-17. For Barley, MSP has been increased to Rs. 1410 per quintal for 2017-18 from Rs. 1325 per quintal in 2016-17. For Gram the MSP has been increased to Rs. 4400 (including a bonus of Rs. 150 per quintal) for 2017-18 from Rs. 4000 per quintal in 2016-17. For Masur, MSP has been increased to Rs. 4250 per quintal (including a bonus of Rs.