Chhattisgarh: Farmers warn government to protest against paddy MSP decision

RAIPUR: Farmers' union Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) here todayBharatiya Kisan Sangh criticised the ruling BJP government in Chhattisgarh for restricting paddy procurement at Minimum Support Price ( MSP) to 10 quintal per acre.

"We have passed a resolution condemning state government's move to limit the paddy procurement to 10 quintal per acre," all India President of BKS, a RSS affilated organisation (rpt), Annasaheb Murkute said in a press conference here today.

The resolution was passed during the four-day long meeting of the association held here from November 1-4.

"Last year, during the assembly polls, BJP had promised to procure 'every last grain of paddy' of farmers and now they have put on such uneven limitation. We will launch protest if the decision will not be taken back," Murkute said.

He also demanded to ensure Rs 300 bonus on per quintal paddy to farmers, which the BJP had assured in its manifesto for Assembly elections held last year.

Meanwhile, state president of BKS, Narayan Baghel said that they will raise the issue before chief minister Raman Singh seeking to remove the "anti-farmers" amendments in the paddy procurement policy.

The other resolutions passed by the association includes, compensation for farmers of Naya Raipur against acquiring their land as per the new land acquisition policy, protest against Centre's decision to import potatoes, intensify its membership drive from next year and others.

The government has asked cooperative societies to start the process from December 1.

The decision drew sharp criticism from the main opposition party as well as several farmers' associations which claimed that it will cause huge losses to farmers as paddy production in the state varies between 15 to 25 quintals per acre.

Earlier, the state government was procuring paddy 20-25 quintal per acre from the farmers.