Farmers organisations have expressed disappointment over the “meagre” increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy announced by the Union government on Wednesday.
The Centre on Wednesday announced a hike of Rs.50 a quintal in the MSP for paddy. Farmers’ representatives regretted that the hike has become an annual ritualistic announcement without considering the distress faced by farmers.
“It has become a routine to give a token hike in the MSP every year without considering important factors or the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. The hike has been made without taking into account the rise in prices of inputs and the problems faced by farmers,” observed Mahadhanapuram V.Rajaram, Working President, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association. Mr.Rajaram said that anything less than Rs.2, 000 a quintal would not be acceptable for farmers.
Reacting with anger to the announcement, A.Nagarajan, State organiser of the Farmers Wing of the Tamil Maanila Congress, said that even as per the reports of the agricultural university, the cost of production of a kg of paddy is Rs.30. The M.S.Swaminathan Commission has recommended that farmers should be given 50 per cent profit over and above the cost of production. “If these were to be taken into account, the MSP should be fixed at Rs.4, 500 a quintal” he said.
The government has not considered the distress situation faced by the farmers and have announced a “token and namesake” hike, he regretted. Farmers were being forced to commit suicide as they are unable to get remunerative prices for their produce; he said and demanded the fixing of MSP at Rs.3, 000 a quintal of paddy.
P.Ayyakannu, president, Desiya-Thennaga Nadigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, said that while government servants were being given regular and periodic increase in their pay, farmers were not being given their due. Farmers were reeling under a crisis, unable to get adequate credit and remunerative price for their produce. The announcement on the hike has also caused more distress among farmers, he said and urged the government to revise the MSP to at least Rs.2, 500 a quintal.
“Ritualistic announcement without considering the recommendations of CACP”
“Anything less than Rs.2, 000 a quintal would not be acceptable for farmers”
