Farmers seek transparency in MSP

Farmers in Punjab and Haryana have sought transparency in the minimum support price (MSP) of the crops in the forthcoming Union budget. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Ajmer Singh Lakkhowal said the government should implement the report of the Swaminathan Committee to determine the minimum support price of crops.

According to Lakkhowal, a separate budget for agriculture on the lines of railway budget can also be mulled as it absorbs the largest workforce in the Indian economy. “Though there has been a substantial revision in the MSP of crops in the past four years, it has not been in proportion to the rising cost of inputs,” he said.

The dwindling water table and high cost of diesel make the cost of irrigation unviable in Haryana and parts of Punjab.

It is expected that the MSP of paddy would be revised between Rs 960 per quintal and Rs 980 per quintal (from Rs 850 plus Rs 50 bonus) shortly.

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in a press statement proposed this at Rs 1,400 per quintal to match the cost of production.