The BJP on Tuesday demanded that the State Government convene an all-party meeting to discuss and resolve the problems being faced by farmers during sale of paddy at the procurement centers (mandis) and the resultant distress sale. The party also demanded immediate rollback of the 5-per cent VAT imposed on procurement of rice.
Addressing a news conference here, senior BJP leader and former Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Manmohan Samal slammed the BJD Government for its faulty procurement policy and lack of infrastructure facilities at the “so-called” mandis. The situation would turn still worse in the coming days if the Government fails to resolve the issues relating to procurement, he warned.
Stating that the Government’s tall claim of procurement of paddy during last three months is only on paper, Samal wanted the Government to come out with a White Paper on the details of the mandis and procurement of paddy so far and payment made to the farmers since the start of the procurement.
Though it is the prime responsibility of the Government to procure paddy, Samal said, the Government has shifted the buck to the cooperative societies which have miserably failed in the task. Earlier the state government had engaged the FCI, State Supply Corporation, TDCC and NAFED to procure paddy from the farmers, but now only the cooperative societies are allowed to procure paddy, which has added to farmer’s woes he said, adding that the cooperatives the Regulated Marketing Committees neither have the required infrastructures nor funds to collect paddy, as a result of which at many places farmers are waiting for days to sell their produce.
He also said the decision to impose 5 per cent VAT on export of rice has further complicated the situation as the neighbouring States Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bangal have not imposed VAT on rice export. “The farmers are neither able to sell their produce to the cooperatives nor are the traders from outside States willing to purchase from farmers due to the steep VAT rate,” Samal said.
The BJP leader said though the government has been collecting two per cent from the farmers through the Regulated Market Committees (RCMs) for strengthening the infrastructure yet nothing has been done to create infrastructures during the last five years despite hundreds of crore lying unutilised with the RCMs.
He also demanded that the Govt hike the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy to Rs 2,100 per quintal. Rejecting the CM’s announcement for a meagre Rs 100 bonus in sale of each quintal of paddy, Samal also demanded payment of Rs 500 to compensate the loss the farmers have suffered.