Buy pulses at MSP: Farmers to govt

This time it will be a ‘do or die’ agitation until the government buys the last grain of moong produced by the farmers

Farmers in Ajmer want the state government to purchase the entire production moong dal at the minimum support price (MSP) by the Centre, failing which they have threatened to launch an indefinite agitation in support of their demand.

Farmers under the banner of Kissan Mahapanchayat on Thursday said they will organise an indefinite agitation in Dudu from Friday.

“This time it will be a ‘do or die’ agitation until the government purchases the last grain of moong produced by the farmers,” said Rampal Jat, national president farmer’s body.

Farmers in the state have incurred losses amounting to more than ₹45 billion after state government failed purchase moong, urad, groundnut, bajra, rice, arhar and other food grains at the MSP, he said.

“The government only purchased 13% of the produce last year and farmers were forced to sell the remaining 87% in the open market at prices below the MSP, incurring loss of crores of rupees. We demand implementation of the Dr SM Swaminathan Report of 2004 in letter and spirit.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has backtracked from its promise to give farmers a price equivalent to 50% over and above the actual input cost, he said. “He (PM) lied to farmers and left them to be exploited by the middlemen.”

Dudu is the largest moong producing region in the state, accounting for more than 30% of the total production. If the Kissan Mahapanchayat can win over the farmers to its side then it will be tough for the BJP to will the by-polls for the Ajmer parliamentary constituency, said political analyst MC Chaudhary.