Bhubaneswar: ‘Disappointing’. That is how described the Odisha chief minsiter, Naveen Patnaik, the Centre’s decision to increase the minimum support price(MSP) for paddy by Rs 80 per quintal.
‘The decision of the union ministry for agriculture and farmers’ welfare to hike the MSP for paddy by Rs 80 per quintal is quite less and disappointing’, Patnaik said.
The union ministry Wednesday fixed the MSP for common grade paddy at Rs1550 and for A grade paddy at Rs 1590 per quintal. The MSP for common grade is Rs1470 and that of A grade is 1510 for the 2016-17 crop year ending in July 2017. The ministry also hiked the MSP for ragi by 10.14% and soya bean by 9.91%. The agriculture ministry fix the MSP of various crops on the recommendations of the Commission for Agrilcuture Costs and Prices(CACP).
Meanwhile, the Centre’s decision to enhance the MSP for paddy has taken a political turn with ruling BJD and the opposition Congress rejecting the hike. The state food supplies and consumer welfare minister, Surya Narayan Patro, also that the hike is very less given the input cost for production of paddy. He lamented that the state can not even support the farmers with bonus as there is a restriction on it by the Centre. Menawhile, the BJD and the Congress are preparing to launch state-wide agitation demanding higher MSP for paddy.
The state assembly has passed an unanimous resolution demanding the MSP at Rs 2930 per quintal of paddy and is seeking the appointment of the prime minister for a discussion on the matter.
