BKU flays Centre for ‘meagre’ increase in MSP of wheat

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 5

Terming it as a cruel joke with farmers, the Bharti Kisan Union-Kadian (BKU) has rejected the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat at Rs 1,840 per quintal announced by the Centre on Thursday.

Union president Harmeet Singh Kadian said in the wake of spurt in the prices of DAP (fertilizer), diesel, farm chemicals and other inputs during the year, marginal hike in the MSP was disproportionate and tantamount to rubbing salt into the wounds of farmers.

Demanding MSP at Rs 2,800 per quintal and similar hike in the support price of paddy, Kadian said farmers had to incur an extra expenditure — around Rs 1,600 per acre — on the account of increase in the prices of fertilizer and diesel and imposition of the GST on farm chemicals (pesticides, insecticides and weedicides) for the cultivation of wheat, whereas paddy growers were made to shell out Rs 1,200 per acre more for stubble management/disposal.

He said farmers were hurt by the Centre’s betrayal as it had backed out from its poll promises made in the election manifesto released during the last Lok Sabha elections. “Farmers will show their might to the political dispensation in the next elections if the government continues to inflict injustice upon the farm community,” he added.