Perturbed over killings of farmers in Madhya Pradesh, the Centre 'secretly' sent letters to states informing about increased minimum support price (MSP) for kharif crops, which includes price sensitive pulses such as arhar (tur), urad, moong, etc.
Surprisingly, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, who had faced strong criticism for performing yoga asanas with Swami Ramdev when farmers were killed in Madhya Pradesh, kept the decision close to his chest by saying that it has not yet been 'cleared' by the Cabinet.
According to experts, the move of the government to not let farmers know about increased MSP is not in their favour and that too at the time when the government is going hammer and tongs about launching several schemes for the welfare of farmers.
Notably, the Cabinet had cleared the proposed MSP for kharif in its June 7 meeting and agriculture ministry sent letters to states about it on June 13. The surprising fact is that agriculture minister did not know about it.
When Singh was asked about it during an informal briefing on Friday, he said that the MSP was on the agenda of the Cabinet, but was not taken up. Dubbing it as a hide and seek move, farmers leader Rakesh Tikait said, "What kind of farmers welfare it is? The government is 'hiding' the most important information as it's the MSP that helps farmers to decide which crop they have to grow. The delay in announcing MSP would surely affect sowing acreage."
"The 'hide and seek' move has raised several questions on the accountability of the government's pro-farmer policies. When the cabinet had cleared it on June 7, it should have been declared on the same day only," Tikait added.
Hailing the increased MSP, former agriculture secretary Siraj Hussain said, "Government has granted a handsome increase in the MSP and bonus for pulses. It is hoped that government would be able to procure at MSP prices.
However, unless a way is found to dispose of earlier procured pulses, the procuring agencies may not have sufficient funds to buy the pulses from farmers." According to sources, the government's bureau of information may release the details of increased MSP in next week.