BJD holds protest meeting in front of Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar alleging Centre’s negligence towards farmers. The party leaders submitted a memorandum with the Governor addressed to the President.
The Memorandum stating that, “Paddy is the main crop of Odisha. Due to hard work of its farmers, Odisha has bagged four National Krishi Karman Awards in last five years. Today Odisha is contributing handsome quantity of rice to the central pool to meet the needs of Public Distribution System in deficit States. It is the third highest paddy procuring surplus State in the country after Punjab and Chhatishgarh.”
“Most paddy farmers sell their surplus to State Government agencies under Decentralised Procurement operations. They get the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by Government of India for their paddy from the Government agencies. The Govt. of Odisha had recommended to fix MSP at Rs.2500 per quintal of paddy for the Kharif Marketing Season 201516. But Government of India fixed MSP for paddy at Rs.1410 per quintal for common variety of paddy (announced in June’2015). of India has fixed it at Rs.1470 per quintal for common variety of paddy. Similarly for Kharif Marketing Season 2016-17, the Government (announced in June 2016) despite State Government’s request for hiking it to Rs 2500 per quintal in December last year”, the memorandum said.
“Without considering the basic problems of the farmers the NDA Government is neglecting the agriculture sector and cut down the budgetary provision under this head. Due to change of sharing pattern of Govt. of India schemes like Rastiya Krishi Vikash Yojana, National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Oil Seeds & Oil Palm, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture and National Mission on Agriculture Extension and Training from 100% to 60%, the State Government has to lose Rs.36,660.80 lakhs during the financial year 2016-17.”
It is well known to everybody the attitudes of Modi Govt. towards KBK districts of Odisha. The Modi Govt. is not giving due attention for its development to Odisha State as expected. Therefore, Biju Janata Dal, Odisha is requesting Hon’ble President of India to intervene in the matter and to direct the Central Govt. to reconsider the genuine demands of the Govt. of Odisa for enhancement of Minimum Support Price in respect of paddy and sanction the rest amount of drought assistance as demanded by Odisha to protect the greater interest of the farmers, memorandum said.