Bhubaneswar June 21 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday expressed his displeasure over the Central government s decision to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by a mere Rs 80 per quintal.
The decision of the Union government on the minimum support price yesterday (Tuesday) is totally disappointing he said.
Based on the recommendations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) the Central government on Tuesday proposed to increase the MSP for paddy by Rs 80 per quintal from Rs 1 470 to Rs 1 550.
The opposition Congress also criticised the Centre for the paltry hike in MSP for paddy.
The raising of the MSP for paddy by a meagre Rs 80 per quintal by the Narendra Modi government is ridiculous. The BJP government has ridiculed farmers. I urge farmers and political parties to take to the streets over this issue said Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
Reacting to the statement of the Chief Minister Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said while the central government has launched many welfare schemes for the farmers the Odisha government has done nothing for the farmers.
Farming is the subject of both the state and central governments. As per information available with me MSP has been hiked thrice each both in Kharif and Rabi seasons in the last three years. What has the state government done? he asked.
The Odisha Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution during its budget session demanding a hike in paddy MSP to Rs 2 930 per quintal. The House Committee chaired by the Speaker had also sought an appointment from the Prime Minister. However the Prime Minister s Office is yet to respond.
--IANS
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Hike in paddy MSP is disappointing: Odisha CM
