Farmers not getting MSP for crops, says Yadav

The Centre increased the minimum support price (MSP) for the farmers saying that farmers will be given 1.5 times of their cost, but they were not getting the price for their crops, said Yogendra Yadav, national president of Swaraj India Party and founder of Jai Kisan Andolan.

Addressing a press conference in Jaipur on Tuesday, Yadav said kharif crops have started coming to the market but the government was yet to begin purchase. He said generally purchasing of kharif crops starts from October 1, but despite passing of three weeks, farmers are forced to sell crops on lesser prices in the market, as government has not started purchasing crops on MSP.

Yadav said as per government of India website (agmarknet) the price realised by farmers as on Monday afternoon of bajra was ~1,405 per quintal, while MSP is ~1950.

The purchase of bajra is yet to begin in Rajasthan, while it started in Haryana. For maize the MSP is ~1,700 per quintal, while farmers are getting ~1,350 per quintal in the market. Same with several other crops, he said.

Yadav said farmers have suffered a loss of more than ~200 crore, based on the arrival of kharif crops from October 1 to 21, 2018 in markets of Rajasthan and difference in market price and MSP.

BJP spokesperson Mukesh Pareek said the purchase of few kharif crops on MSP has started in Rajasthan, while others would start in coming days. “If Yadav has any proof then should give us and stop misguiding the farmers,” he said.

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