People's Democracy

AIKS Demands Hiking MSP For Paddy

THE All India Kisan Sabha demanded immediate hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy. It felt that with the steep rise in the prices of inputs like seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, power, irrigation etc., the MSP for paddy announced recently by the central government -- Rs 645 per quintal for common variety and Rs 675 per quintal for grade A -- does not reflect the present day cost of cultivation.

The AIKS general secretary K Varadha Rajan in a statement issued on October 22 demanded that the MSP for paddy for this year must be more than Rs 1000 per quintal. Separate purchasing centres must be opened immediately throughout the country, particularly in all paddy growing regions, he stated.

The AIKS also drew the attention of the UPA government towards the plight of growers of Basmati variety of paddy in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh and adjoining states. The grain traders are refusing to pay the fair price of Basmati in name of ban on export of paddy.

The All India Kisan Sabha demanded immediate intervention by the central government, concerned state governments and Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ensure fair price for Basmati growers.