BKU threatens stir over low MSP for sunflower

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, May 26

The arrival of sunflower seeds have started at the Ambala City grain market, but farmers are being offered much lower prices than the MSP in the absence of government purchase.

The MSP for the sunflower seed for the current season is Rs 3,950 a quintal, while the farmers are being offered maximum Rs 2,650 a quintal. The government purchase is scheduled to start on June 1.

Nearly 1,000 quintal of sunflower seeds have arrived at the grain market till today.

Sant Singh, a farmer from Fatehgarh, said, “I have been offered Rs 2,600 a quintal for the produce but I haven’t sold it as it is much lower than the MSP. The government should start its purchase to ensure that every farmer gets the right price.”

Jile Singh, secretary, market committee, Ambala City, said, “The farmers are being offered lower prices by the private players and they should wait for government agency Hafed to start the purchase, so that they get remunerative price for the crop. The arrivals have been lower so far if compared to previous years.”

In the last procurement season, the Ambala City grain market had received nearly 40,000 quintal sunflower.

Meanwhile, the BKU (Charuni) has also decided to open a front against the state government if it failed to ensure 100 per cent purchase of the stock. The government currently purchases only 25 per cent.

Gurnam Singh Charuni, BKU chief, said, “We have sent a memorandum to the government to ensure 100 per cent purchase on the MSP or we will be forced to launch an agitation. A case is also pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in this context.”

Following poor prices being offered in previous years also, the area under sunflower cultivation has decreased in Ambala. Last year, over 3,000 acres were under the sunflower crop in the district, but this year around 2,400 acres are under the crop.

Satbeer Sharma, a farmer from Samalkha, said, “Last year, I had sown sunflower in seven acres, but failed to get remunerative prices for the crop. This year, I have sown it on just one acre. Besides, the lower production has been another issue due to which the farmers have started growing other crops.” SS Yadav, Deputy Director, Agriculture, said, “The area under sunflower has decreased to around 2,400 acres as farmers have started preferring maize over sunflower.”