Nagpur. Paddy growers are in trouble due to non-availability of Minimum Guarantee Price (MSP). Shiv Sena MP from Ramtek Kripal Tumane demanded that the central government give a bonus of Rs 1,000 to paddy growers through Nafed. On various issues of paddy growers, he raised this issue in the Lok Sabha under ‘Immediately of Public Importance’. He said that this year the farmers have suffered huge losses due to unseasonal rains and heavy rains in Maharashtra.
Paddy production in Vidarbha is less as compared to last year. The procurement of food grains through NAFED has not started yet. Last year the MSP of paddy was Rs 1,868. This year the MSP is Rs 1,940. The cost of cultivation of paddy in Maharashtra is high. Last year, Nafed had given a bonus of Rs 700 to the farmers after their purchase so that there is no loss to the farmers. However, procurement has not started from Nafed yet.
Farmers’ produce lying in the house
He said that farmers’ paddy is lying in the house. Farmers are also facing difficulties as traders are buying below MSP. Farmers demand minimum cost of cultivation, so procurement of paddy should be started through NAFED and growers should be given a bonus of Rs.1000 per quintal. Paddy is grown in 6 tehsils of Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency Ramtek, Parshiwani, Mouda, Kuhi, Umred, Bhiwapur. Procurement in Mouda, Ramtek and Kuhi has not started yet. This has increased the difficulties of the farmers. Before Diwali, the crop comes in the hands of the farmers. Though procurement through NAFED has not started yet, paddy is lying at home. Also there is no market price. For this, farmers are demanding to get bonus with guarantee.