‘MSP buy is Modi govt’s assure,’ says India’s agriculture minister as farmer unions renew protests

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured on Friday in Rajya Sabha that the Narendra Modi authorities is dedicated to buying all farm produce at minimal assist worth (MSP).

The agriculture minister’s assertion got here on the day the farmers marched to Delhi with a constitution of calls for, which features a authorized assure for the MSP of crops.

“I need to guarantee the home via you that every one produce of farmers will probably be bought at Minimal assist worth. That is the Modi authorities and the assure to fulfil Modi’s assure,” Chouhan informed the home.

“MSP is given when a crop is bought at charges decrease than the MSP. I need to guarantee the welfare of farmers is our dedication. We now have performed the work of elevating MSP and in addition shopping for crops on MSP,” he added.

Citing the insurance policies of the Modi authorities, Chouhan mentioned that since 2019, MSP has been calculated to incorporate a 50 per cent revenue over the price of manufacturing, benefiting farmers. He contrasted this with the Congress-led governments, alleging they ignored farmers’ calls for.

“When our mates from the opposite facet had been in energy, that they had acknowledged on report that they can not settle for the M S Swaminathan Fee suggestions, particularly on giving 50 per cent greater than the price of produce. I’ve the report,” he mentioned.

“They [the Congress] have by no means honored the farmers and by no means gave severe consideration to remunerative costs. However we, alternatively, have been giving 50 per cent greater than the price of manufacturing for crops like paddy, wheat, jowar, and soybean for the previous three years,” the minister mentioned.

The minister additionally cited intervention in altering export duties and costs every time charges of commodities fall.

After Chouhan’s remarks, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar requested him to put on report the paperwork to substantiate his declare, which he agreed to.

On December 3, Dhankhar had questioned Chouhan over the federal government not holding a dialogue with the farmers. “Can we create a boundary between the farmer and the federal government? I don’t perceive why there isn’t a dialogue with the farmers. My concern is why this initiative has not occurred to date,” he had mentioned.

Afterward Friday (December 6), the protesting farmer unions – Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) (SKM-NP) — determined to recall the group of 101 farmers who had been marching in direction of Delhi.

With inputs from businesses.