Yogendra Yadav warns of long movement seeking MSP

MP Pratap Simha says MSP is already there but the issue over procurement policy will be brought to Union Minister’s notice

Samyukt Kisan Morcha Convener Yogendra Yadav on Monday joined farmers in protesting outside the office of Mysuru MP Pratap Simha here on Monday to demand Minimum Support Price (MSP) which Mr. Yadav claimed that the farmers across the nation were not getting though announced by the Centre.

As a part of nationwide agitation launched by farmers in support of the MSP for their produce, farmers from Mysuru dumped harvested paddy and ragi in front of the MP’s office in Jaladarshini, to explain their plight of not getting the scientific price for their produce and demand MSP as announced.

Addressing the farmers, Mr. Yadav said Prime Minister Narendra Modi says MSP is already there and will remain forever but why is it not available to farmers when it is there on paper. “Show us an example of a farmer getting MSP. For paddy, the MSP is ₹1,940 a quintal but farmers are getting ₹1,400 to 1,600 a quintal. In the case of ragi, the most nutritious food on earth, the MSP is ₹3,377 a quintal but are getting ₹1,900 quintal. But the M.S. Swaminathan Committee had recommended an MSP of ₹2,500 for paddy and ₹4,500 for ragi,” he said.

Mr. Yadav said grave injustice being done to farmers in the name of MSP must stop and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha is holding protests, organizing seminars and other events in the country from April 11 to 17 in support of MSP.

He warned of a long movement if the MSP as announced is not given to every farmer in the country. “Farmers are not seeking dhaan (donation) but dhaam (scientific pricing). They are our annadathas (food providers) and they shouldn’t beg for better prices. The price is their right,” he argued.

Mr. Yadav said the PM announced in February 2016 that the farmers’ income will be doubled in six years. “Six years have gone, let the government show which farmer’s income has been doubled,” he said.

Responding to Mr. Yadav’s demands, Mr. Simha, who met the farmers and spoke about the issues raised by them, said the MSP is already there but there are some procurement issues that need to be addressed.