Fix MSP for sugar, milk: CM to Centre

MUMBAI: In the backdrop of protests by farmers over falling prices of agricultural produce, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has exhorted the Central government to fix minimum support price for milk and sugar.

While participating in the fourth meeting of the governing council of Niti Aayog chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Sunday, the CM has also demanded a 10% export subsidy on skimmed milk powder, and restructuring of soft loans given to sugar factories.

The CM also spoke about various steps taken by his government for growth of infrastructure and agriculture and the state GDP. In his speech, Fadnavis pitched for funds to revamp 3,500 rural haats, which boost marketing of agricultural produce. “The Central government should fix an MSP for milk under the Essential Commodities Act and also give a subsidy of 10% on the export of milk powder. To help the sugar sector, the Centre should direct the central bank to restructure soft loans and give an additional period of two years to the factories for repayment,” he said. Dairy farmers have been demanding strict implementation of procurement price determined by the state government to stop the exploitation by milk cooperatives. Fall in the price of skimmed milk powder in the international market had led to farmers’ protest last month. The government had announced a subsidy of ₹3 a litre for milk powder. The CM also called for special permission from the defence ministry to build a bridge in the Maoist-affected Gadchiroli. He said Maharashtra has begun construction of 6 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.