Government Assures Purchase of Farmers' Produce at 50% Above Cost Price: Shivraj Chouhan
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New Delhi, Dec 6 (NationPress) The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, stated on Friday that the Centre will not only determine the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops at a level exceeding 50% of the production cost but also commit to purchasing the produce from farmers.
While addressing the Rajya Sabha, he pointed out that the Congress party had previously withheld the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers' crops.
“In stark contrast, the Central Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has persistently raised the MSP over the past decade,” the minister remarked.
He underscored that in 2015, the ministry was rebranded as the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, which signified a crucial transition towards prioritizing farmers' welfare, an aspect that was previously neglected.
He mentioned that when Congress was in power, they claimed to be unable to implement the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Commission. In 2019, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi resolved that MSP rates would be determined by adding 50% profit to the cost.
“During the tenure of the Congress government, they never provided farmers with more than 50% profit on their costs, whereas we are dedicated to acquiring farmers' crops by offering at least 50% profit,” he stated.
“There has been an extraordinary rise in the budget allocated for agriculture. Up until 2013-14, it was merely Rs 21,900 crore, which has since surged to Rs 1.23 lakh crore,” he emphasized.
“We have outlined six key priorities for farmers' welfare — we will enhance production, lower production costs, ensure fair pricing for production in case of crop losses through the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, diversify agriculture by promoting natural farming, and elevate farmers' income to prevent repeated demands for loan waivers,” the minister asserted.
Chouhan noted that the government not only provides fertilizers but also offers subsidies to assist farmers. Recently, a substantial subsidy of Rs 1.94 lakh crore was allocated, enabling farmers to acquire essential inputs like urea and DAP at reduced prices.
Significantly, the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has reached a pivotal achievement by providing subsidies on bags priced at Rs 2100. Through these subsidies, farmers across India are assured of timely access to fertilizers, a promise that the government intends to uphold in the future, the minister added.
He stated that concurrently, the government is actively fostering awareness regarding the detrimental effects of excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers. Consequently, adequate emphasis is also being placed on organic and natural farming practices.
However, Chouhan assured that the government remains steadfast in its commitment to supplying subsidized fertilizers to farmers. “We have consistently ensured the availability of adequate fertilizers and will continue doing so in the future. Our objective is to establish a balance between advocating sustainable farming methods and guaranteeing that our farmers have access to the necessary resources,” he concluded.
