Farmers demand hike in the present MSP of Paddy

Farmers in the state have alleged that they have sustained huge losses with the present MSP (Minimum Support price) of paddy because of the sudden increase in the cost of production of the paddy. It is due to the sharp increase in price of fertilizers, pesticide and seeds. 

 

Farmers are demanding an immediate hike in the MSP to save themselves from huge losses. Asking the government to raise the price to Rs.2000/ per quintal of Paddy, they alleged that the present MSP of Rs.1080/- per quintal of paddy is quite insufficient because it does not cover even the cost of production. 

 

Under the banner of the western Odisha farmers’ coordination committee, the farmers put forth their grievance before the central team from the commission for agricultural costs and prices (CACP) of Agriculture Ministry of Government of India that is presently visiting various parts of the state to observe the reaction of the farmers.

 

Giving a comparative statement of the cost of production and income from one standard acre of land, the members of the association claimed that farming has become a costly affair because of the price rise of the fertilizers, seeds and labour. They tried to convince the visiting team that it will become difficult for the farmers to sustain in coming days if there is no increase in the minimum support price of the paddy.

 

“The cost of production has increased several folds because of the price rise in the fertilizers and seeds and pesticides. Even the wages of the labourers have increased. So farming becomes costly affair in the present time. More over, there is uncertainty in the yielding because of weather condition and climatic changes. So we demanded a hike in the minimum support price of the paddy”, Umesh Mishra, the vice-president of the coordination committee said on Saturday. According him the association has submitted a memorandum before the visiting team members visiting the district recently where the association has given a comparative statement of the cost of production of paddy and price of the paddy of one standard acre of land.

 

On the other hand criticizing the anti-farmer policy of the state government, farmer leaders alleged that they feel quite insecure during the present government as government wants industrial development at the cost of the farmers. “We feel totally insecure during the tenure of the present Naveen’s Government because it wants industrial development at the cost of the farmers. Suicidal death of farmers becomes high during the government as it does not give any protection to the farmers”, the convener of the coordination committee Ashok Pradhan said.