Various farmers associations have criticised the paltry increase in the minimum support price for paddy announced by the Centre recently and appealed for reasonable hike with immediate effect.
The meagre hike only proved the step-motherly treatment meted out to the agriculture sector by the Centre, they alleged.
A.R. Shanmugam, president of the Salem District Agricultural Production Committee, Panamarathupatti, said that the Centre a few days ago announced the increase of Rs. 50 per quintal (from Rs. 1,360 to Rs. 1,410) in the minimum support price for paddy, which was very much unjustified.
The farmers had to invest much for procuring fertilizers and quality seeds. Farm labour had also become very scarce. Moreover, farmers suffered heavy loss regularly due to natural calamities.
Increasing the minimum support price for paddy by just 50 paise per kg would in no way benefit the farming community.
The meagre hike was a big disappointment, Mr. Shanmugam said and pleaded with the Government to hike the minimum support price by Rs. 500 per quintal.
The Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to the Communist Party of India (CPI) too criticised the Centre’s decision and said that it was nothing but ‘betrayal of farmers’.
The prices of all farm inputs had gone up manifold and the farmers were expecting reasonable hike in the paddy support price, said R. P. Ramasamy, president of the Salem district unit of the Sangam.
The Centre should reconsider its decision and hike the support price to bring solace to the suffering farming community, he said.
C. Vaiyapuri, president of the United Farmers’ Association – Tamil Nadu, said that the measly increase in minimum support price was a big disappointment.
Noted farm scientist M. S. Swaminathan recommended the fixation of the minimum price for agricultural produce based on the expenses incurred plus 50 per cent incentive.
The Government should implement Mr. Swaminathan’s recommendation while fixing the price for paddy and other agricultural produce.
Mr. Vaiyapuri also pleaded with the Centre to fix the minimum support price for ordinary paddy at Rs. 2,500 per quintal, special grade at Rs. 3,000, dhal between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 5,500 per quintal, millets between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 2,500 per quintal and oil seeds between Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 5,000 per quintal.
‘Increasing the price by just 50 paise per kg will not benefit the farming community’
