Put viable mechanism for fixing crop prices in place: Badal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the central government to put in place a viable mechanism on the lines of Swaminathan formula for fixing crop prices, saying current mechanism for determining prices was "absurd".
Stating this here in Dhuri assembly segment, the Chief Minister said the Union government must adopt some appropriate formula as proposed by the renowned agri-scientist M S Swaminathan for fixing the prices of crops in the country to save farmers.
He said the existing formula of the fixing the prices was "absurd" and had "insignificant" relevance in the present scenario.
Badal bemoaned as per the existing formula the farmers were not even considered on par with the skilled labour, which was sheer injustice with them.

"Due to the flaws in the existing price fixation policy, the gap between input cost and income of the farmers has further widened, which has made agriculture an absolutely non-profitable and un-remunerative venture" he added.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government had recommended the cost of the Rabi crop for the year 2015-16 to the Union government, while keeping in view the market price of the various inputs like seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, irrigation and labour along with various other factors including the marketing expenditure and weather risks.

He said state government has recommended to the Centre a minimum support price of Rs 1,950 for wheat, Rs 1,640 for barley, Rs 3,800 for gram and Rs 3,600 per quintal for mustard.

"We have proposed the hike in MSP after determining the input costs of the Rabi crops for which agricultural experts had thoroughly analyzed the current situation" added Badal.
On the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Anandpur Sahib, the Chief Minister said that he had personally extended invitation to Modi for attending the celebrations of 350th foundation day of Anandpur Sahib, which was accepted by him.
He said that there was no other purpose of the Prime Minister's visit to Anandpur Sahib adding that he was just coming to be a part of this mega event.