Punjab farmers to oppose wheat import

Punjab farmers would oppose the Centre's move to import wheat by staging a protest in Delhi on May 22.

"The demonstration is aimed at pressing the Union government to stop importing wheat and instead give Rs 1,140 per quintal minimum support price (MSP) to farmers," Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) President Ajmer Singh said today.

"It is unfortunate that the Centre is ready to pay Rs 1,200 per quintal for import of wheat, but not ready to pay more than Rs 850 per quintal to farmers here," Singh added.

Ajmer said the hike of Rs 65 per quintal in the MSP of paddy, recommended by the agriculture price commission , was not acceptable to farmers.

"A five-member farmers' delegation will soon be submitting a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Food Minister Sharad Pawar stressing for a wheat MSP of Rs 1,140 per quintal and a paddy MSP of Rs 825 per quintal," he said.

They would also demand complete waiver of farmers' loans.