Farmers' organisations have termed central government's decision of hiking the minimum support price (MSP) as hogwash aimed at tapping the rural electorate ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Vijay Jawandia, farmer leader and agricultural expert, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised in 2014 the MSP hike on the basis of C2 (comprehensive cost that includes cost of seeds, fertiliser, family labour, interest and rent of the land) plus 50 per cent profit; while the announcement is based on A2 (seed cost) + FL (fertiliser and labour) + 50 per cent profit.
"In the MSP formula announced by the central government, the interest on loan and land rent is not included. For example, for cotton, the hiked MSP is Rs 5,450 per quintal against last year's price of Rs 4,320 per quintal. Actually, the Swaminathan committee recommends C2+50% profit formula. Under this arrangement the cotton rate cost per quintal would have been Rs 6,800 per quintal. Therefore, there is huge difference promise and delivery. Besides, if government is so concerned about farmer welfare, then why did it take four years to take the MSP hike decision. It shows that this is nothing but politicking and detached from farmer and agriculture welfare," said Jawandia.
He further explained that during the Congress regime, PM Manmohan Singh in 2008 offered a higher percentage rise in MSP as compared to what is offered now. This jugglery of figures is to misguide the gullible farmers ahead of 2019 general elections," said Jawandia.
Ajit Navale, secretary of All India Kisan Sabha, said that the same BJP government last year had given affidavit in the Supreme Court that they could not set MSP on the basis of input cost plus 50% profit because it would lead rise in inflation. He said that now, the same government has announced MSP based on input cost plus 50% profit.
Raju Shetti, MP and president of Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana told DNA that the BJP in 2014 election had promised the input cost plus 50% as a MSP. "However, the declared MSP is not on the lines of promises offered. This is nothing but hogwash decision. On the other hand, cost of inputs like fertiliser, labour, diesel cost has been increased."
'WILL PROTEST'
- Farmers’ leader Raju Shetti says they will continue their fight against the ‘tyranny of the BJP government’.
- He said last year, farmers did not even get MSP for crops.
- He claimed the regime has no mechanism to ensure that farmers get the prevailing MSP.
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