Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said the Centre’s decision to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by Rs 80 per quintal is “quite disappointing”.
Patnaik’s reaction followed the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare’s move to increase the paddy MSP from Rs 1,470 per quintal to Rs 1,550.
Echoing the Chief Minister’s view, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surjya Narayan Patro said the hike in the paddy MSP is too little.
“Even if the State wants to support farmers with bonus, the Government can’t do so due to the restrictions imposed by the Centre,” he claimed.
The ruling BJD said it would protest against the Centre’s decision on the paddy MSP. “Our party will stage protests over the Centre’s decision. A date in this regard will be finalised after talking to the Chief Minister and the party farmer’s cell,” BJD Spokesperson Samir Dash said.
The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) also expressed its displeasure over the marginal increase in the paddy MSP, saying the Centre’s decision is disparaging.
“The Congress had demanded a hike in the MSP to Rs 2,930 per quintal in the State Assembly. We will protest against the Centre’s decision,” said Congress Chief Whip in Assembly Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
The farmers’ associations in the State also termed the amount of MSP hike as an ‘anti-farmers’ move.
Notably, the State Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution during its last session demanding a hike in the MSP to Rs 2,930 per quintal.
As per the Ministry of Agriculture website data, the paddy MSP has been hiked on basis of recommendations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). The MSP for the common grade is Rs 1,550 and for the ‘A’ grade Rs 1,590.