Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has agreed to a bonus of Rs 50 per quintal on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of wheat of Rs 1,120.
The government agencies have a target to procure 26.3 million tonnes of wheat this rabi season. So this may add a burden of Rs 1,315 crore on the state exchequer.
The farmer’s organisation, Bhartiya Kisan Union had demanded a bonus of Rs 200 per quintal keeping cognisance of inflation and cost of inputs.
Bhartiya Kisan Union President Ajmer Singh Lakhowal told Business Standard that they had a meeting with Sharad Pawar at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi on the issue of bonus and had conveyed to him that it was a paltry amount.
He added that the Union Minister had assured to arrange a meeting of the farmer’s representatives with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh once he is back from his visit abroad.
“He may invite us on 15 April to hold discussions with the Prime Minister,” said Lakhowal.
A bonus of Rs 50 per quintal would fetch a farmer in Punjab an extra income of Rs 900 per acre.