Fatehgarh MP bats for MSP as legal right for farmers

Raikot, July 8

Justifying demands raised by farmers of the region from time to time, Fatehgarh Sahib MP Dr Amar Singh Boparai has urged the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to come to their rescue and save the agricultural economy of the state from collapsing.

He also urged the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to compensate wheat and paddy growers for the losses suffered during the last couple of years due to varied reasons.

A fall in yield due to adverse weather conditions earlier and higher input costs due to extreme hot conditions were cited as cumulative factors behind massive losses incurred by farmers of Amargarh, Raikot and Payal Assembly segments over the years. The MP urged the minister to impress upon the Centre to bring laws during the Budget Session for giving the legal right of MSP to the farmers.

The legislator said he had raised demands of farmers before the Union Agriculture Minister Chouhan and demanded a significant hike in the MSP for major crops besides seeking a lump-sum compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for farmers suffering major crop damage over 75 per cent during the past years.

Justifying demands raised by farmers led by All India Kisan Sabha leader Baldev Singh Latala, Zila Parishad member Prabhdeep Singh Narangwal and the Congress’ halqa in-charge Raikot Kaamil Amar Singh, Dr Boparai acknowledged that last three years had been difficult for the state’s farmers in general and those of Malwa in particular.