SAD urges Centre to take welfare measures for farmers

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 21

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday urged the Centre to take welfare and relief measures for farmers, especially fixing of MSP on agriculture produce, to provide 50 per cent profit over and above cost of production.

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

This was undertaken during a meeting of a SAD delegation, consisting of party secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and senior vice president Prem Singh Chandumajra, with Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. The two are also parliamentarians.

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 fixation of MSP, the two leaders batted for “C2” formula for computing the cost of production agriculture produce as the formula “A2+ F2”, in vogue, is inadequate.

During about an hour-long meeting, they said “C2” mechanism was comprehensive as its takes into account lease/rental amount-cost and other subliminal costs.

They batted for creation of “ Special Agriculture Economic Zones” for  states likes Punjab and Haryana where underground water table has gone down, ranging till about 500 ft. The cost to draw out water for irrigation was exorbitant, and ever on the increase, they said.

Punjab and Haryana should be treated as one, and higher cost incurred by their farmers should be factored in the MSP, they said.

SAD seeking to mount pressure on NDA government has a context as Union Minister Arun Jaitley during his presentation of Budget 2018-19 in Lok Sabha mentioned MSP with reference to providing 50 per cent profit over above cost of production.

They put forth a total of 11 suggestions which include MSP mechanism for all crops and financial help to states to compensate farmers in the eventuality of difference between MSP and market price.

Also, they urged opening of another route to Pakistan through Punjab by setting up integrated check post at Hussainiwala. Cargo facility should be set up at Chandigarh airport, especially for export of vegetables, they urged.

Later, Chandu Majra said the minister assured to convene a meeting between ministry’s officials and experts with SAD leaders on March 5 on the issues raised by them.