In Chhattisgarh, Congress' promise to hike MSP stalls procurement

The Congress has announced waiving off farm loans and an MSP of Rs 2,500 per quintal

Bhagwati Verma, a medium farmer in Chhattisgarh's Checheda village, had tears as he loaded paddy bags on a pick-up van. This was the first week of November and the vehicle was to drive the load to the village’s state-run cooperative society. Selling this would fetch Verma minimum support price (MSP) for the yield.

Going to the society with produce has always been a festive moment for Chhattisgarh farmers, including the 40-year-old Verma whose village is in the Bilaspur district. The state is among a few in the country that procure paddy at MSP. “But this year, it was a painful