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Slashed grain prices forcing farmers to sell below Minimum Support Price

The total losses to farmers because of a crash in agriculture produce prices have been estimated over Rs 5,000 crore in 2017-18.

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The slashed pulses rates are forcing farmers of the state to sell their produce below the minimum support prices (MSP). The Maharashtra government-constituted Late Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swalambhan Mission's chief Kishor Tiwari has written to CM Devendra Fadnavis informing him about the effect of the same on farmers.

The total losses to farmers because of a crash in agriculture produce prices have been estimated over Rs 5,000 crore in 2017-18.

"Soyabean has been sold at Rs 2,700 per quintal against the MSP of Rs 3,050 in the open market, while tur dal has been sold at Rs 4,100 per quintal against the MSP of Rs 5,450 and chana dal has been sold at Rs 3,500 per quintal against the MSP of Rs 4,400. ," said Tiwari in his letter to the chief minister (CM).

He said on one hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pressing upon giving input cost plus 50% profit to farmers but on the other hand, farm produces are getting sold below the MSP. "The depreciation of costs will result in agrarian crisis leading to more farmers suicides in Vidharbha and Marathwada," says the letter.

He said that out of 38.86 lakh tonne of soyabean, the government was able to buy only 26,000 tonnes. "Same is the case with tur dal where out of 4.46 lakh productions of tur dal, only 20% was bought by the government. Chana's total production has been expected at 20 lakh tonne, whereas the government has purchased only three lakh tonne chana so far. Therefore, this year farmers are facing a huge price crisis," added Tiwari.

He further said that because of these losses, the government was unable to get the credit of historical loan waiver scheme. "Government should immediately begin its procurement scheme or it should try to pay the differences to farmers in order to prevent financial losses. The error in the system has to be addressed," opined the farmer leader.

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