New Delhi : A high-level delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to demand an immediate hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy from Rs.725 to Rs.1,000 per quintal.
BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar regretted Thursday that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is dealing out step-motherly treatment to paddy growers in the country.
“The disparity between MSP of wheat and paddy has increased phenomenally to Rs.275 per quintal after the government’s decision to increase MSP of wheat without commensurate increase in MSP of paddy. If course correction is not done at the earliest, farmers of summer paddy might switch over to wheat. This could result in a crunch,” said Javadekar.
He pointed out that the Food Security Mission, as envisaged in the 11th Plan, has set a target of 10 million tonnes of additional paddy production.
He charged the UPA government of “bias against paddy”.
“In many reports and statements, the government has expressed its opinion against the crop on the ground of its high water intensity. But this is true only where it is irrigated. The major paddy crop in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Orissa, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand is rain-fed kharif crop,” claimed Javadekar.