M A I L B A G

Wheat MSP increase not enough

HOW hard is the life of farmers with small and medium landholdings and the problems they encounter in managing irrigation and ploughing their fields can be understood only by themselves. They have to cultivate their land against heavy odds. They have to arrange inputs like good quality seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.

Having put in hard labour and costly resources, the farmers become victims of nature’s vagaries. Despite their full devotion to crop production, they may not get even a grain in return. Most of them are often in debt. Badly hit by their plight, some of them commit suicide. Consequently, Rs 100 hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of wheat is quite insignificant. The farmers deserve sufficient increase in wheat prices in the light of the proportionate rise in the prices of other essential commodities.

There is also the need for developing an effective mechanism for reducing the retailers’ margin of profit who fleece both the farmers and the public after the produce is brought to the market. A scientific marketing policy has yet to come up and farm experts must seriously work on it.

Dr R.K. SHARMA, Faridabad

II

The MSP of wheat has risen to Rs 750 a quintal for the coming Rabi season and the government hopes to replenish its stocks this time. However, I am afraid, this may not happen as the farmers will prefer to sell wheat to private traders at higher prices.

These traders will either stock the wheat and create an artificial scarcity in the market to increase the prices further or sell to the government directly at dictated prices. The government will have to import wheat at higher international prices and precious foreign exchange will go down the drain.

I suggest a simple solution to the problem. The government should buy wheat from farmers at the prevailing market prices. The increased profits will make farmers grow more wheat which will pull down the market prices to a reasonable figure.

Also the government must make efforts to allot a minimum area under wheat throughout the country. This will ensure assured wheat output each year. This simple policy will benefit both farmers and consumers as also check the evil practices of traders.

MANAVPREET SINGH, Sangrur

III

I appreciate the decision of the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices to fix the MSP of wheat at Rs 750 a quintal for the Rabi procurement season 2006-07. There is a global decline in wheat yield.

Moreover, the landing cost of imported wheat at ports is Rs 930 a quintal. Therefore, the wheat price should at least be linked to the international wheat price index which will suit the interests of both the farmers and the government.

MUKESH INDER DHILLON, Ghungrana

IV

Raising the MSP of wheat by Rs 100 a quintal will not help the farmers in the long run. On the contrary, it is a net loss of Rs 150 against the production cost a quintal, according to an estimate of the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Thus, the rise in the MSP may only be justified for the present.

H.S. BAJWA (Ex-Sarpanch) and MAJOR SINGH KULLIAN, Bhulana

Spreading the message of love Gurupurab was celebrated here on November 5 to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. He taught great lessons to the world which we must follow to be good human beings. He was against all kinds of discrimination among people. So we should not discriminate on any ground. Guru Nank Dev spread the message of love. According to him, we are born to love and not to hate. We should always love each other and never hate anyone. We hold Guru Nanak in highest esteem. However, we can become good human beings only by following his teachings and principles in letter and spirit. RAMESHINDER SINGH SANDHU, Student, Luzern (Switzerland)

A helping hand

It was very heartening to see the picture of a traffic constable extending a helping hand to a blind person on The Tribune (Page 3, Oct 19). I have just been transferred to Chandigarh. One thing that has impressed me most is the turnout and professional conduct of the Traffic Police in Chandigarh and Mohali.

I had heard stories of dependable and most trusted cops of the British Police with whom the general public feels secure in case of any difficulty. Our gentlemen in uniform also give me the same feeling.

A.J.S. KOHLI, Mohali

Waiting for sparrows

I have read Mr Simranjit Singh Mann’s letter, “Will the vultures return?” (Oct 24). I still wait for the sparrows to return to the areas being covered by the radio active rays emitted by the towers installed at various places by the cell phone companies.

I am still waiting for these small creatures to return to their habitats (in our homes and fields) to pick up grains and pieces of bread which I throw on my roof for them to eat. If these rays have some effect on the sparrows, how safe are human brings?

B.D. BHATARA, Gagret (Una)

At whose cost?

I refer to Dr S.S. Johl’s article “SEZs are welcome” (Oct 26). We must keep in mind how the Reliance Industries rose in one generation. This is all due to hidden profit in its adventures. The land cost has risen considerably due to the SEZs. This is helping the rich people at the cost of the poor.

It would be better for the government to go slow on the SEZs. Dr S.S. Johl has rightly raised this pertinent question in his article: who will feed the hungry nation? Moreover, the common people are not much interested with the principles and concept of the SEZs.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana