Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar lal on Wednesday hailed the decision of the Central Government to increase the MSP for all kharif crops for 2018-19 season as a historic step, saying it redeems the promise made by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to fix MSP at 150 per cent of the cost of production.
Reacting to the decision in the presence of jubilant farmers who had come dancing to his residence to thank him for the hike, the Chief Minister said, “The decision of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, will help boost farmers’ income, mitigate rural distress and administer the farm sector a booster dose. It is for the first time since Independence that such massive hike in MSP has been effected by any government”, he added.
It is gratifying to note that the MSP has been fixed after factoring in all paid-out costs, including those incurred on hiring human labour, bullock labour/machine labour, rent paid for leased in land and expenses incurred on use of material inputs like seeds, fertilizers, manures and irrigation charges, the Chief Minister added.
Dancing with glee, the farmers profusely thanked the Chief Minister who presented them with sweets. Agriculture Minister, O.P. Dhankar also present on this occassion.
JAI RAM THAKUR HAIlS HIKE
Shimla: Hailing the decision, Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur termed it as a historic decision, adding that the long pending demand of the farmers for last two decades has been fulfilled by the Modi government.
He said this decision would also prove to be milestone to accomplish the target of the Union government to doubling the income of farmers by 2022.
Thakur said the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, which is the main summer crop, has been enhanced by a record Rs 200 per quintal that will help fulfill to give farmers 50 percent more rate than their cost of production.
The Chief Minister also welcomed sharp hike in MSP of oilseeds including soyabean, groundnut, sunflower seed, sesamum and niger seed.
Thakur said this decision would also benefit the farmers of Himachal Pradesh where 90 percent population was still dependent on agriculture and allied sectors. This would certainly give a major boost to farmer's income, he added.