MSP of Kharif Crops
26th June, 2014
All India Kisan Sabha condemns the Narendra Modi led Government for deceiving the millions of toiling peasantry by announcing unremunerative and unfair Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of Kharif Crops for the crop season 2014-15. Modi had made tall claims and promised that Farmers would be given MSP which would be not less than 50 percent over and above the Cost of Production. Instead by announcing the low MSP which in many cases does not even meet the Cost of Production the Government has only added insult to injury. The AIKS calls upon all its units and the peasantry across the country to organise protests against this betrayal and humiliating treatment meted out to the peasantry.
Coming as it does in the context of the drastic shortfall in rainfall by over 45 percent so far as well as the looming threat of the other adverse impact of the El Nino effect this decision of the Government will put farmers into great distress. It is also noteworthy that the same Government has decided to extend huge export subsidies to the corporate sugar lobby to the tune of Rs.3300/Tonne just before taking this retrograde move. The intentions of Modi and his Government are clearly aimed at promoting corporate profiteering at the expense of the peasantry and the consumers.
The MSP of Paddy has been raised merely by Rs.50/- per quintal to Rs.1360/Qtl from Rs.1310/Qtl last year. According to the Kharif Price Report for 2013-14 brought out by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) the Projected Costs of Production (C2) for paddy was Rs.1234.06/Qtl. This was one year back and all input costs have risen drastically after that. For crops like Moong the C2 in 2013-14 was Rs.4758.69/Qtl. In a mockery of the Farmers’ plight Modi Government has announced and MSP of only Rs.4600/Qtl which is way below even the then C2 a full year after that. Similarly in Jowar and Ragi the C2 in 2013-14 was Rs.1648.41/Qtl and Rs.1687.05/Qtl respectively while the announced MSPs are only Rs. Rs.1550/Qtl for both these crops. The MSP announced remains well below even the Cost of Production. In Maize and Bajra there has been zero increase in MSP.
The plight of cotton farmers in the country has led to the maximum suicides in the cotton belt. However, Narendra Modi led Government has thrown to winds all its pre-poll promises and only made a token increase of Rs.50/Qtl which will not compensate the Farmers for the exorbitant increase in input costs and irrigation expenditure. It will also not meet the expenditure incurred by the farmers for cultivation.
AIKS demands that the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs be withdrawn forthwith and MSP be announced after an emergency consultation with the Peasant organisations as well as State Governments. The extraordinary situation of less rainfall and El Nino effect as well as increased input costs must be taken into account and remunerative prices be arrived at on the basis of realistic cost calculation. AIKS will launch struggles against Modi led Government till this move is withdrawn and justice is done to the millions of peasantry.
Sd/-
Amra Ram, President
Hannan Mollah, General Secretary
