Akali Dal urges Centre to bail out farmers

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 21

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today urged the Centre to take welfare and relief measures for farmers, especially a “credible and holistic” formula for the fixation of MSP (minimum support price) on agricultural produce to provide 50 per profit over and above the cost of production.

The party also suggested a waiver of debt loans of farmers and farm workers, at least as a one-time measure.

The SAD delegation, including MPs Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Prem Singh Chandumajra, met Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh.

They said: “Urgency is called for as the crisis in the farm sector continues to deepen and the same is being reflected in suicides by farmers all over the country.”

With regard to the fixation of MSP, the two leaders batted for the C2 (comprehensive cost) formula for computing the cost of production. They said the C2 mechanism took into account lease/rental cost and other costs.

They sought the creation of special agriculture economic zones for states such as Punjab and Haryana, where the water table had gone down considerably.

The duo sought the opening of another route to Pakistan through Punjab by setting up an integrated check post at Hussainiwala. Cargo facility should be set up at the Chandigarh airport, especially for the export of vegetables, the Akali leaders said.

Later, Chandumajra said Radha Mohan Singh promised to convene a meeting of ministry officials and experts with SAD leaders on March 5 on the issues raised by them.