MSP BATTLE: Farmersof ‘Soya State’grapple with low prices

 

 

 

IN NEIGHBOURING state Maharashtra, Center has come forward to procure 13 lakh metric tonnes of the oilseed in view of market falling below the minimum support price (MSP), in Madhya Pradesh too there is demand to increase this crops price is gaining ground. In view of bumper production of soyabean, the State has got the tag of ‘Soya State’ but farmers feel that despite all this they are facing tremendous difficulty to attend break even. As the input has soared up exponentially. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, a farmer from Nimar Satyendra Singh said that price of machine used in this crop has become six thousand rupees earlier it can be purchased at Rs 3,000. Same is the case with labour cost. But price of produce is still hovering between Rs 3,000 and 4,000. Even before the bumper arrival of soybean has started in the markets of Madhya Pradesh, politics has intensified between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress in the state regarding the price of soybean.

 

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh has given many important suggestions to the government to increase the price of soybean to Rs 6,000 per quintal. BJP and Congress are accusing each other amid the ongoing political tussle over the price of soybean in the State. Digvijay Singh says that to increase the price of soybean, import duty should be increased so that the import of soybean from outside can be stopped. Apart from this, Digvijay Singh also raised the demand to abolish the oil stock limit. The government has fixed the limit of oil stock limit Along with this, the limit of soybean stock in the mill industry is also fixed. Apart from this, Digvijay Singh has also suggested adding soybean to the commodity exchange.

 

He claims that if three steps are taken, the government can get the farmers the price of soybean up to Rs 6,000 per quintal. The former Chief Minister said that the wheat and gram procurement model in Madhya Pradesh should also be applied to soybean. He said that the wheat procurement model is based on MSP and bonus. Apart from this, the gram procurement model, this year gram has been procured at a higher price than MSP every week under the MAPP scheme. Digvijay Singh said that the price of soybean can also be increased through government schemes like MSP, MAPP, PDS PSS, PM-Asha etc. BJP has taken a dig at Digvijay Singh. BJP leaders stated that why did Digvijay Singh not remember the farmers when Congress was in power? During Digvijay Singh's rule, many types of frauds were committed with the farmers including loan waiver. The government will take decisions in the interest of the farmers. Farmers will get a fair price when the soybean crop comes in the market. As per the latest market rates, the average soyabean price in Madhya Pradesh is Rs 4,341.36/Quintal. The lowest market price is Rs 3,675/Quintal .