NEW DELHI: Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) strongly condemns the Chief Minister of Haryana Nayab Singh Saini for announcing MSP for 24 crops – an additional 9 crops but without C2+50% formulae and legally guaranteed procurement. The partial declaration in a BJP Rally by the CM is a mere election stunt to woo the farmers’ votes to remain in power. It is not acceptable and the farmers of Haryana who had fought the 3 Corporate Farm Acts will teach BJP a lesson for this betrayal.
The current MSP of Rs. 2300 per quintal for Paddy of the year 2024-25 announced by the Modi Government is based on A2+FL- means costs incurred by the farmer and the value of the family labour. As per the 2006 recommendation of the National Commission of Farmers chaired by Dr. M S Swaminathan, C2 means comprehensive cost, which is A2+FL cost plus imputed rental value of owned land plus interest on fixed capital, rent paid for leased-in land and C2+50% amounts to Rs.3012 per quintal as per the year 2024-25. Compared to this sum, A2+FL+ 50% price is less by Rs.712 per quintal .
Considering Paddy production in Haryana in the year 2024-25 akin to the year 2023-24 that was 54.1 lakh tonnes, the loss suffered by the paddy farmers of the State amounts to Rs.3851.90 crore. Similar estimation of the loss in each of the 24 crops of Haryana will expose the real anti-farmer face of the BJP and the Nayab Singh Government.
The Chief Minister’s declaration lacks legally guaranteed procurement. Announcing MSP even based on A2+FL+50% formulae without guaranteed procurement is nothing but eye wash to deceive farmers. In the absence of legally binding procurement, farmers are forced to sell the crops as per the dictates of the intermediaries of the large corporate traders and Agri-Business Companies and face huge exploitation and loss.
The Haryana State SKM meeting scheduled on 20th August 2024 will consider decisive actions to rally farmers on the struggle path to protect their rights including MSP@C2+50% with guaranteed procurement, comprehensive loan waiver, no privatisation of power sector and prepaid smart meters and other demands including Construction of Martyrs Memorial at Singhu/ Tikri Border to honour the 736 farmer martyrs sacrificed lives during the historic farmers struggle at Delhi borders and forced Modi Government to repeal the 3 Farm Acts aimed at corporatisation of agriculture. SKM will undertake village level campaigns to ensure farmers and the people at large will Expose, Oppose and Punish BJP in the forthcoming Assembly election.