New Delhi: Amid a series of protests by farmers and opposition over farm bills and demands of legally assured Minimum Support Price, Central Government announced the MSP for Rabi season 2020-21 on Monday.
The rates for procurement of six rabi crops have been increased by a minimum ₹50 per quintal to up to 300 per quintal.
According to government claims, the MSP is as per the recommendations of Swaminathan Committee and since 2018-19, the government has been fixing the MSP by calculating average cost born by farmer plus a minimum of 50% profit over the cost.
However, Farmer Unions yet again have received the government's claim saying that a hike of 2.6% is too meagre to meet the needs of rising livelihood costs. AIKSCC on Tuesday again raised its demand for a law assuring MSP at C2+50% formula actually recommended by the Swaminathan committee.
"Wheat MSP was Rs 1925 per quintal for the season 2019-20 but today it is selling at Rs 1400 per quintal in the market causing massive losses to farmers. If the government is actually sincere to farmers, it should come forward and offer to purchase wheat at its declared MSP which is Rs 1925 per quintal for the season," said VM Singh, Convener AIKSCC.
A statement released by the AIKSCC said that the price of diesel and petrol has been rising and power bill 2020 intends to withdraw all subsidies and charge all common consumers at Rs 10.20 per unit. Fertilizer subsidies have also been withdrawn leading to rising cost and black marketing. The cost of living has been rising at higher rates but a meagre 2.6 % increase in MSP is a cruel joke on the farmers of this country.
As per official figures, only 6% of farmers get to sell their produce at MSP or their product is procured by the government at MSP. Rest of them still depend on markets where traders hardly offer them the MSP declared by the government.
"Usually they announced it in the month of October but this time they have announced in September just to show that MSP will be there for the farmers. The question is will the government procure farmer's produce at these rates or assure procurement at the announced MSPs? It never happens.. The MSP for maize was ₹ 1760 last year but farmers had to sell at ₹ 700 to 900 per quintal. What is the benefit of such MSP when farmers never get to sell at those rates? This is why we are demanding a bill on MSP which will guarantee that nobody can purchase from farmers below the declared MSP. Like they brought three bills for Corporates and Industrialists, they should bring one for farmers" said VM Singh.
Comparing the increase in MSP to the inflation rate, Farmer leader Pushpendra Singh also expressed his disappointment with the government.
"This increase in MSP is too little. The inflation rate is around 6% but the increase in MSP on wheat is just 2.6%. That means farmers are getting 3.4% less on wheat. Similarly for other crops also except for Masoor. The MSP has actually been decreased if we see it in accordance with the inflation" said Chaudhary Pushpendra Singh, President of Kisan Shakti Sangh.
Meanwhile, Farmers’ unions from across the country continue to demand bill on MSP guarantee and are preparing for a nationwide protest on 25th of September.
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