VEHEMENTLY PRESENTS CASE OF PUNJAB FARMERS IN NITI AYOG, BATS FOR MSP AS A LEGAL GUARANTEE

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today vehemently presented the case of food growers of the state by underlining the need for making Minimum Support Price (MSP) a legal guarantee and ensuring foolproof marketing system for alternative crops.

The Chief Minister, while addressing the national council meeting of Niti Aayog chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today, recalled that at the time when country was starving for food, the hard working and resilient farmers of the state had made country self reliant in food production. However, he said that as agriculture is no longer a profitable venture so the farmers are facing a serious crisis. Bhagwant Mann said that all out efforts must be made to bail out the farmers from this situation for which the Union government must step in.

The Chief Minister underscored the need for making MSP on the crops a legal guarantee. He said that it is the need of hour so that interests of farmers can be safeguarded. Likewise, Bhagwant Mann said that the MSP must be remunerative as the input cost of agriculture have enhanced manifolds and farmers are not getting right price of their harvest.

Expressing concern over the import of pulses in country on exorbitant prices, the Chief Minister said that this drain of country’s wealth needs to be checked and Punjab can play an important role in it. He said that the farmers of the state are ready to make country self relevant in production of pulses. However, Bhagwant Mann said that the Union government must announce MSP for pulses and assured marketing system for it.

Outrightly rejecting the committee on MSP constituted by the Government of India, the Chief Minister demanded that it should be reconstituted with ‘real farmers’ as its members. He said that the committee is dominated by those arm chair economists who don’t have any knowledge about agriculture. Bhagwant Mann said that experts of agriculture along with all the stakeholders must be made members of this committee.

Expressing concern over the import of pulses in country on exorbitant prices, the Chief Minister said that this drain of country’s wealth needs to be checked and Punjab can play an important role in it. He said that the farmers of the state are ready to make country self relevant in production of pulses. However, Bhagwant Mann said that the Union government must announce MSP for pulses and assured marketing system for it.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that diversification of crops is urgently needed to take farmers out of rut of wheat/ paddy cycle on one hand and to save the depleting ground water level on the other. He bemoaned that out of total 150 blocks water level in 117 blocks is in dark zone. Bhagwant Mann solicited support of Union government to check water level by introducing MSP on alternative crops too.
The Chief Minister also apprised the Niti Aayog that state government is making strenuous efforts to revamp education structure in state.