Bhubaneswar, Jan 4: A day after terming Centre as anti-farmers the ruling BJD Thursday announced to hold demonstrations in front of all the block headquarters of 12 high paddy procurement districts of the state from January 8 to 17 over Centre’s alleged refusal to hike minimum support price (MSP) of paddy per quintal further this year.
BJD General Secretary Sanjay Kumar Das Burma informed newsmen here that the party would hold demonstrations in front of blocks in Baragarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada , Samablpur and Sonepur in phases for ten days beginning January 8.
BJD leader and finance minister Sashibhusan Behera said that as part of its protest the BJD would submit memorandum to the President through the District Collectors of the concerned districts.
He said that the agitation would be intensified if the Union government did not change its attitude for the self respect and interest of the farmers’ community in Orissa.
The BJD leaders alleged that statement of the Union Minister of state for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Gajendra Singh Sekhawat in Rajya Sabha that the Union government would not reconsider its decision on the issue of Minimum Support Price (MSP) is nothing but a betrayal of the farmers community by the BJP.
The minister had informed that MSP at Rs 1,550 for 2017-18 financial year which provides a profit margin of Rs 433 per quintal to farmers against the cost of production of Rs 1,117 per quintal as estimated by the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP). However, BJD leaders claim that production cost of paddy per quintal is Rs 2,344 rupees in the state at present.
The ruling dispensation in the state has been demanding that the MSP be increased to Rs 2,930 per quintal as passed unanimously by the state Assembly.
A house committee led by the state Assembly Speaker wanted to apprise the Prime Minister about the demand but the Prime Minister did not give time to meet the committee, the members said, adding, the House Committee has now taken a decision to meet the President on the issue. (PNN)
