September 23: Farmers have expressed dissatisfaction over the minimum support price of paddy fixed by the government. They argued that the minimum support price is too less compared to increase in price of chemical fertilizer, seeds, agricultural tools and equipment and the wages of the labourers.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said in a statement that the minimum support price was fixed by the cabinet meeting held on September 14.    
According to the ministry, the price of coarse paddy has been fixed at Rs 2,752 per quintal and medium variety at Rs 2,902 per quintal for the current fiscal year.

Although the new support price is more by Rs 17 per quintal than last year, the farmers are unhappy in the current context of inflation and price hike.

Last year, coarse paddy was priced at Rs 2,735 per quintal and medium variety paddy at Rs 2,885 per quintal.    
The government has been fixing the minimum support price of coarse and medium variety of paddy every year arguing that the entrepreneurs will buy paddy at arbitrary price if the price is not fixed on time. 

Chairperson of the National Farmers Commission Dr Prem Dangal expressed dissatisfaction regarding the minimum support price fixed by the government arguing that the government should have taken into consideration the factors such as the increase in prices of fertilizer, seeds, agricultural equipment and labour charge while fixing the support price.

He said that the farmers will have to bear loss due to the government’s decision which was taken without considering the price hike of basic necessities required for agriculture.

“The government has already fixe the support price. Now it has to pay attention toward implementing the support price,” said Dr Dangal, adding, “The government must consider the investment made by the farmers while determining the support price in the future.”