CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing a legislation in the forthcoming Parliament Session which not only confers on farmers the right to sell their produce at MSP but also guarantees an automatic annual review of the MSP, which will be, at least, 50 per cent more than production costs.
Citing the recent farmers’ protests, Yechury in his letter blamed the Government agencies, FCI and NAFED for not intervening in the market to help the farmers.
“It is my duty to remind you, Mr. Prime Minister, that during your election campaign, you had promised a Minimum Support Price that will provide a 50 per cent net profit to the farmer over his production costs. During the last three years, you have done nothing to fulfill this promise. The current MSP for various crops fixed by your government barely provides any returns to the farmer.
“Under these circumstances, I am writing to you to demand that your Government introduce and pass a legislation in the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament which not only confers on farmers the Right to Sell at MSP, but also guarantees an automatic annual review of the MSP which will be, at least, 50 per cent more than the comprehensive production costs as established by the Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) for that year,” said Yechury.