Rise in wheat MSP relieves farmers

The Centre's decision to raise the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by Rs 100 has caused relief to around 30 lakh farmers of Punjab and Haryana, which are the major wheat producers in the country.

However, the Government of Punjab sought MSP of Rs 792 per quintal.

"If the government can pay Rs 1050 per quintal for the imported wheat, the farmers deserve higher remuneration. The MSP should have been hiked to Rs 1000 per quintal," said Rajewal Balbir Singh, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union.

In the wake of the rising cost of fertilisers, agricultural implements and labour, it is imperative to consider farmers' interest as the demand of wheat is increasing in the country, he said.

Owing to the rising demand of wheat in the past few years, the price in the open market has remained higher than the price paid to the farmers.

The farmers are worried due to the private market players who sold the wheat in the open market at about Rs 1,125 per quintal last year while the farmers were paid Rs 650 per quintal. The farming community in the region feels that the private players should be restrained from entering the market.

The farmers indulged into distress selling owing to lack of post harvest infrastructure.