NEW DELHI: Sending a signal to farmers ahead of the next sowing season, Union cabinet approved on Wednesday hikes in minimum support price (MSP) of six rabi crops, with wheat getting an increase of nearly 6.6% to Rs 2,585 per quintal for 2026-27 marketing season, up from existing Rs 2,425 per quintal.Safflower got highest absolute & percentage hike, showing govt’s intent to encourage farmers to opt for oilseeds cultivation through crop diversification. While Maharashtra & Karnataka are main safflower-growing states, it is also cultivated in Andhra, Telangana, Gujarat, MP and Rajasthan. However, expected gain over cost of production for farmers is highest for wheat (margin of 109% over all-India weighted average cost of production), followed by rapeseed & mustard (93%), lentil (89%), gram (59%), barley (58%), and safflower (50%).Since govt estimated procurement of 297 lakh tonnes of these crops during 2026-27 marketing season, farmers are expected to be paid Rs 84,263 crore for the same. The absolute increase in MSP for safflower is Rs 600 per quintal, followed by Rs 300 per quintal for lentil (masur), Rs 250 per quintal for rapeseed & mustard, Rs 225 per quintal for gram, Rs 170 per quintal for barley, and Rs 160 per quintal for wheat.