Bhubaneswar(Samaya Bureau): Rubbishing the Centre’s proposal to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by only Rs 80 per quintal, Chief Minister today said that the decision was quite ‘disappointing’. The Union Agriculture Ministry had proposed to increase the MSP for paddy from Rs 1,470 per quintal to Rs 1,550.
Food & Civil Supplies minister S N Patro ridiculing the Cenre’s proposal said, “The hike in paddy MSP is too little. Even if the State wants to support the farmers with bonus, the government cannot do so due to restrictions imposed by the Centre.”
The State Assembly had earlier unanimously passed a resolution during its last session demanding a hike in paddy MSP to Rs 2,930 per quintal.
Meanwhile, farmers’ associations in the state have opposed the amount of paltry hike in paddy MSP terming it as an ‘anti-farmer’ move.
The website of the Union Agriculture Ministry revealed that MSP has been hiked on basis of recommendations made by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). The price for A-grade paddy is fixed at Rs 1,590 per quintal.
