The Hindu Business Line : Farmers mull 10% crop holiday

Hyderabad, Dec. 12 Even as political parties are putting the issue of MSP (minimum support price) on top of their agenda with an eye on votes, farmers themselves have decided to resort to a novel method to press for their demands.

At a national level meeting organised by the Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations’ (CIFA) being held here, leaders of farmers’ organisations are seriously contemplating to go for voluntary 10 per cent crop holiday – to protest and create demand.

“It is one of the ideas that cropped up as we prepare a road map for action plan,” said Mr P. Chengal Reddy, Secretary-General, CIFA.

Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, Chairman of Punjab Mandi Board and President of Bharti Kissan Union (Punjab), demanded that MSP should be linked with wholesale price index (WPI).

“The costs of production of wheat, rice and all other crops are much higher than those considered by the CACP for determination of MSP,” he said.

He demanded that the country should evolve a comprehensive insurance policy, covering crop and farmers. He also wanted the Government to prepare a plan, ensuring disbursement of subsidies directly to farmers.

Symbolic protest

Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of the conference here on Wednesday, he, however, said that the protest was going to be a symbolic one if the idea was ratified by the farmers’ leaders.

Earlier addressing the gathering, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu, former Union Rural Development Minister and senior BJP leaders have asked the farmers to take to the streets to press for their demands for remunerative prices.

“You will not be heard otherwise,” they said.

Both the leaders felt that the governments should not resort to acquire land for private SEZ developers.