The BJP Krushak Morcha on Friday urged Governor SC Jamir to take appropriate steps to pay minimum support price (MSP) of Rs2,100 and bonus of Rs500 over the MSP to the farmers for a quintal of paddy during the ongoing procurement season.
A team led by Morcha president Maheswar Sahoo submitted a memorandum of six-point charter of demands to the Governor.
Holding talks with the Governor, Sahu alleged that while the farmers have lost their crops due to cyclone Phailin and subsequent flood, the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government’s assistance has remained disappointing.
“The agriculture sector has remained a neglected sector in the Naveen Patnaik regime. losing crops in natural disasters, the loan-burdened farmers are increasingly committing suicide. They need Government support on priority basis,” the memorandum said.
Their other demands include waiver of agriculture loan, permanent infrastructure for mandis, CBI investigation into alleged seed-scam and payment of Rs5 lakh to the family of each farmer who committed suicide due to crops loss.
The team included Sahu, Morcha State secretary Mahesh Mohanty, general secretary Jadumani Panigrahi, vice-president Sameer Patra and treasurer Sankarshan Jena.