Bhubaneswar: With farmers’ suicides and crop losses grabbing attention of the people at large across the country, the alleged neglect of the Centre towards the plight of the farmers came in for widespread criticism at a farmers’ meeting held here Monday.
Several farmers from across the state participated in the protest organised by Orissa Krushak Sangathan Samanaya Samiti. Although, Prime Minister Modi had earlier promised the implementation of Swaminathan Committee report, he failed to keep his word to his countrymen, a farmer said.
“The Prime Minister has betrayed the farmers of his country. His party’s government in Chhattisgarh used to give bonus to the farmers. But after coming to power Modi stopped these allowances. In fact, both the state and Centre have turned out to be anti-farmer governments,’ said eminent environmentalist and farmer leader Prafulla Samantray.
Significantly, even after the killing of farmer in Maharashtra, the Centre has not done much to alleviate the plight of the feeders of the nation, a farmer alleged. “Unfortunately, farmers suicides are still continuing in the state and the administration is sitting back and watching this burning issue,’’ said the tiller.
According to the farmers, the Centre had effected a marginal hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy by Rs 80. Although, the Prime Minister had earlier promised to double the price, nothing has been done so far.
Similarly, if the Centre can waive the loans of corporate houses, why it cannot do the same to the farmers of this country? We are also demanding the increase in the MSP of paddy to Rs 2,930 per quintal,” Samantray said.
Several farmers from across the state demanded immediate attention of the government to their issues.
“We are not getting any benefit from farming. Similarly, many of the government benefits are going to the hands of the landholders and the actual farmers are not getting these benefits. So, the government has to consider our issues seriously. Otherwise, the silence of the administration would wipe out the farmers of this country,” Kamala Kantha Nayak, a farmer from Bolangir said.
Even many professionals who tried their luck in the farming sector are now unsure about the future of the farming sector in the state, he added.
“It is very difficult to manage this industry. The labour cost, the fertilizer cost and other investments have increased. But, we are not getting any benefits from this sector. So we are very skeptical about the future of farmers,” said Prakash Chandra Pradhan, a graduate who has entered into the farming sector.
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