Chhattisgarh farmers drive hard bargain for paddy MSP

Farmers in Chhattisgarh have been trying hard to get a better price for their paddy yield from the state government.

The ryots have been demanding a bonus of Rs 270 for a quintal of paddy that they are selling to the government societies at minimum support price (MSP). At par with the bonus announced by the Centre, the state government has also announced paddy bonus of Rs 50 for a quintal.

With the bonus announced by the Union and state governments, farmers will now get Rs 1,050 per quintal for common grade and Rs 1,080 for Grade-A paddy. The procurement of paddy has started in the state on October 12 and will continue till January 31, 2010.

The bonus of Rs 100 has, however, not come as a respite for the farmers, who have been on an agitation mode. While they resorted to road blockade on highways on November 9, farmers called for a state-wide shutdown on November 25.

The farmers have now decided to launch a non-cooperation movement against the state government, farmer leader Sanket Thakur said after a meeting of different farmers groups.

Under the movement, Thakur said, "The farmers will stop paying electricity bills, irrigation tax and instalment of farm loans. We have given ultimatum to the state government to accept their demands by December 6 or otherwise face the non-cooperation movement."

When the farmers will receive the bills or notice for the re-payment of loans, they will mobilise at a place in the respective village and burn them. The joint action committee of farmers is deputing an in-charge in every village to streamline the movement.