Farmers expressed displeasure over the budget...
Punjab farmer leaders on saturday said that the Union Budget is disappointing for farmers as it does not provide a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for crops. Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the eighth budget on Saturday. Sitharaman announced six new agriculture schemes and increased the limit of subsidized Kisan Credit Card loan from the current Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, which will affect 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohad said that increasing the credit card loan limit will further increase the debt burden on farmers. The solution to the agrarian crisis will not be by making farmers more indebted but by making laws and making farmers self-reliant by giving a legal guarantee of MSP on crops. The protesting farmers are demanding a law that gives legal assurance of sale of agricultural produce at least at MSP.
What did the farmers say?
He said the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been protesting at Khanauri and Shambhu borders for the past one year in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee to MSP. The farmers were hopeful that the government would take steps to resolve the MSP issue. Kohad further asked why the government talks of promoting the production of only three crops - tur, urad and lentil - and that too for four years. If a farmer starts sowing these three crops, where will he go after four years. The six-year Pulses Mission received Rs 1,000 crore to promote tur, urad and lentil production. Under this initiative, Nafed and NCCF will purchase pulses from registered farmers for four years through formal agreements.
We want to ask the central government that if it really wants to make the country self-sufficient in pulses and oilseeds, then why is it not bringing all pulses and oilseeds crops under the ambit of the 'MSP Guarantee Act' and why is a purchase limit being imposed for 4 years. The SKM (non-political) leader said that last year the central government imported edible oil worth more than Rs 1,41,000 crore and pulses worth more than Rs 31,170 crore.
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