Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh demanded hike in paddy support price. He said that the support price for paddy should be increased to at least Rs2000 per quintal, in larger interest of farmers.
Due to inflation the input cost of agriculture has increased significantly, thrusting upon a greater burden on farmers. Hence, to relieve them from the same, it is the need of the hour to take the decision, he insisted. He Raised an important issue during a public meeting organised at Bilaigarh of Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara district on Friday.
In his address to a huge public gathering at Bilaigarh on third day of Vikas Yatra phase-III, Dr Raman Singh further mentioned that he had requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for several times that the support price for paddy should be increased but no action as such was taken in the direction by the union Government. Subsequently, Chhattisgarh Government decided to distribute paddy bonus to lakhs of farmers in state at the rate of Rs270 per quintal.
“Chhattisgarh is the first State of the country that has procured paddy at support price from farmers of the State and has also distributed bonus to them, from its own budget and resources”, said Dr Raman Singh on the occasion.
He added that State Government procures paddy for union Government. Paddy procured at procurement centres of Chhattisgarh is supplied to about a dozen of other States of country, through union Government. Moreover, the support price for paddy is also decided by union Government itself.
He said that he had written a letter to Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister, requesting that support price for paddy should be at least Rs2000 per quintal. But no significant response was received from the centre. This is the reason why Chhattisgarh Government deliberated the initiative to distribute bonus to farmers.
This year, during Kharif season State Government procured about 71 lakh metric tons of paddy from over 10 lakh farmers, paying them nearly Rs9000 crore as support price. Besides, nearly Rs1926 crores were distributed as bonus to farmers at Rs270 per quintal.
Meanwhile, CM also talked about the initiatives taken by State Government for development of agro-sector in Chhattisgarh and the positive impact of the same on lives of farmers as well as other people of rural areas. He said that ever since Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara district was formed in year 2012, the pace of development here has increased significantly. Various construction works are also underway at Bilaigarh.
Meanwhile, he also acknowledged the overwhelming response of public in the gatherings held during Vikas Yatra. On the occasion, Food Minister and In-charge of Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara district Punnulal Mohile, lok Sabha member Kamla Patle and Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Mineral Development Corporation Gaurishankar Agrawal also addressed the public meeting at Bilaigarh. Meanwhile, Housing and Environment Minister Rajesh Munat, MlA lakhsmi Baghel, and President of Raipur Jila Panchayat lakshmi Verma and other public representatives along with large number of farmers were present.
During the programme, CM presented 168 construction works worth Rs39.95 crores to Bilaigarh. This includes inauguration of 81 completed works worth Rs16.65 crores and ‘bhumi-pujan’ of 87 new works worth nearly Rs23.30 crores. Meanwhile, he also distributed goods and subsidy amounts worth Rs43.99 lakh to about 19,881 beneficiaries of Bilaigarh under various schemes.
Yesterday in the late evening, Chief Minister addressed a public meeting at Saraipali of Mahasamund district, where he inaugurated and laid foundation of 31 construction works worth Rs76 crores and also distributed goods and subsidy amounts worth Rs42.29 crores to nearly 48,000 beneficiaries under various schemes.