Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday hailed the BJP-led NDA Government’s decision to affect a steep increase in minimum support prices (MSP) for food grains, pulses, oil seeds and cotton in such a manner that farmers were assured a profit of more than 50 per cent on all expenditure done on their crops, including their own labour, while once again claiming credit for the move.
“While an Rs 8,000 crore package has given a big boost to sugarcane farmers, the Centre’s decision to increase the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane would serve as a bonanza to sugarcane farmers across the country,” said SAD president Sukhbir Badal.
Sukhbir thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as BJP national president Amit Shah for the “landmark” decisions, saying that they would be instrumental in taking agriculture out of its present day crisis besides giving a much-needed boost to the farm economy.
“The former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had brought the issue of the crisis being faced by farmers to the attention of BJP president Amit Shah during his visit to Chandigarh last month. The issue was discussed in depth and Shah was also briefed how Punjab farmers were suffering due to the Congress government’s refusal to implement the Rs 90,000 crore farm loan waiver promised to them,” pointed Sukhbir.
He said that the sharp increase in farmer suicides in Punjab, with more than 500 farmers taking their own lives in a little more than one year, was also discussed while advocating an appropriate increase in MSP for wheat and paddy as well as other crops.
“The farm crisis issue was discussed again with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when a SAD delegation called upon him to thank him for doing away with GST on langar in gurdwaras as well as all other religious and charitable institutions. We are happy that the NDA government has taken action on our urgent requests and is coming out with a comprehensive increase in MSP of all major food crops,”said Sukhbir.
He said that this was also a victory for Parkash Singh Badal’s advocacy of the Swaminathan report and his desire to get it implemented is finally taking shape with the NDA committing itself to most of the recommendations made by the agri-scientist.
At the same time, Sukhbir requested the Centre to take into account the higher costs incurred by farmers of Punjab and Haryana to draw out water to produce wheat and paddy for the central pool, adding that these costs could be taken into account while calculating the cost of production.