Kharif crops to be purchased from MSP in Madhya Pradesh: Digvijay Singh

Bhopal, October 18 (IANS). Rajya Sabha MP and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh demanded to buy Kharif crops from the state at the minimum support price. Former Chief Minister Singh said the government’s attitude towards maize, groundnut, soybean and paddy was indifferent. Farmers do not get fair prices for their hard work and the government shirks the responsibility to buy from MSP (Minimum Support Price). He said that the area under soybeans has decreased in the state this year because high quality varieties are not available and the production is constantly decreasing due to fake seeds and fertilizers. The price of soybeans is still around Rs 4,000 per quintal, which was the same as ten years ago, which means there has been no increase in the income of farmers. Digvijay Singh said compared to soybeans, there has been an increase in the cultivation of maize and groundnuts, but the condition of these crops is also pathetic. Maize is being sold in the market today at Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,400 per quintal, while its MSP is Rs 2,400. According to CACP, its cost is Rs 1,508, which means farmers cannot even recover the cost. Similarly, he told that the market price of groundnut is Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per quintal, while the MSP is Rs 7,263 and the cost is Rs 4,842. In both groundnuts and maize, farmers do not even get the cost price, and the government remains a mute spectator. Former Chief Minister Singh further said that maize has started arriving in the mandis of the state, but purchase orders from MSP have not been issued yet. He said the chief minister is not discussing this issue and the agriculture minister of the country, who is from Madhya Pradesh, is sitting silent, while maize cultivation has increased the most in his own area. The former chief minister also said that soybeans are also not being procured from MSP, and the government is talking about implementing Bhavantar Yojana, which earlier also failed completely. Farmers are dissatisfied with this scheme. They want value in cash and time, not paper plans. Referring to the condition of the farmers, the former chief minister said that the farmers of the entire state are upset and sad today. Its cost is not even covered. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of the government to immediately start purchasing all Kharif crops like maize, groundnut, soybean and paddy from MSP. –IANS SNP/DCP