R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, OCT 6
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday reiterated that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will continue and will not be withdrawn under any circumstances. She came down heavily on those who oppose it and spreading rumours.
Hon'ble Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Press meet https://t.co/QmUY8ZQom9
— PIB in Tamil Nadu (@pibchennai) October 6, 2020
She made a veiled attack on Congress vis-a-vis the new farm legislations, saying those who did not even provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) for commodities other than paddy and wheat were now raising ”unreasonable” apprehensions.
Addressing reporters on empowering farmers through the newly enacted farm laws, the Minister stoutly defending the enactment of new farm laws on Tuesday, she said these legislations came under the ambit of the union government and it covered inter-state farm trade and will not interfere in the functioning of APMC, which is a state subject.
On apprehensions that MSP may be scrapped by the government, she said: “I find that absolutely unreasonable to keep speculating on it and say that this is the concern of the farmer.”
Addressing a press conference here, the minister said: “MSP is there, it was there and it shall continue to be there.”
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Before BJP took reins at the centre, the previous government had focused only on giving and increasing MSP for paddy and wheat and they did not ”bother” about other crops, she said. Though 20-23 items were covered under the MSP regime, “those who gave” support price only for paddy and wheat and not for other crops were today crying foul raising apprehensions that the government may do away with the system of MSP and it was surprising, she said, in an apparent reference to Congress and others protesting against the Centre’s measures.
Only after the BJP took over the reins of power in 2014, the MSP was extended to other crops beyond wheat and paddy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Though approximately 23-24 lakh tonnes of pulses were needed, only about 16 lakh tonnes were produced and the remaining was imported, she said adding MSP was given to other crops as well to reverse such a scenario by the NDA government.
The minister said that the new law ensures the farmers fix price for their produce and sell it even to other states, which eliminates nearly 8 to 8.5 percent commission hitherto paid to APMC and intermediaries.
With a view to protecting farm produce from rotting, farmers can build cold storage units in their village itself through Farmers Producers Company (FPOs), for which the government is extending financial assistance, she added.
Speaking about the three reforms of agricultural laws, Sitharaman said they would increase the prospects and welfare of farmers.
She said, prior to the introduction of farm bills, the issue was extensively discussed with farmers and agriculture experts. These bills were introduced keeping the welfare of farmers in mind.
Nirmala Sitharaman meets farmers
Later, Sitharaman meets the farmers and their representatives at a hotel to explain advantages of newly enacted farm laws by the union government allayed their fear. State BJP President L. Murugan was also present on this occasion.
