BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Tuesday targeted the Centre over delay in announcement of the minimum support price (MSP) of major crops including paddy for the kharif season 2018.
Raising the issue here, state agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy said farmers in
Odisha are in dilemma because of delay in MSP announcement, which has also affected the agricultural activities here.
“The Centre generally fixes the MSP by mid-June. It is unfortunate that they (NDA government) are yet to fix the support price of major crops till date. The state government has already recommended the Centre to fix the MSP at Rs 2930 per quintal (for common variety),” Maharathy told reporters here.
The agriculture minister said the commission for agriculture costs and prices (CACP) under the Union ministry of agriculture has suggested the state government to fix the MSP at Rs 1745 per quintal.
Taking a dig at BJP national president Amit Shah, who recently visited the state to take stock of party organization, Maharathy said Shah did not utter a single word on MSP revision though over 60 per cent people in Odisha depend on agriculture.
Maharathy also ridiculed Union oil minister
Dharmendra Pradhan, who recently organized Centre’s Agri Vikas conclave in the city to educate farmers about the latest technology, business models, successful experiments and new market linkage facilities.
“Prime Minister
Narendra Modi had announced to hike the MSP at least one and half times of the production cost, a promise which is yet to be fulfilled. This shows the attitude of the Modi government towards farmers,” the agriculture minister said.
Though Maharathy had also written a letter to Union agriculture minister on March 31 in this regard, sources said he would again urge the Centre to announce the MSP as soon as possible.
The state government’s recommendation to fix the MSP at Rs 2930 per quintal was on the basis of the resolution unanimously passed in the state assembly on March 25, last year.
Last year, the Centre has fixed the MSP for paddy (common variety) at Rs 1550 per quintal. The ruling party had earlier hit the streets protesting low hike in the MSP.
Even as monsoon covered most parts of the state, sowing activities is yet to be started in most parts of the state for several reasons, informed sources said.
Expressing concern over the issue, Congress MLA Prakash Behera said the Prime Minister is not at all concerned for the farmers. “Earlier, he had turned down request of the assembly committee to discuss the MSP issue. He is more concerned for the capitalists,” Behera said.
BJP spokesperson and farmers’ leader Pradip Purohit said the Centre is in the process to fix the MSP and it would be announced very soon.
According to sources, the NDA government is considering raising the paddy MSP by Rs 200 per quintal (highest ever single-year hike) to woo the farming community ahead of the 2019 elections.