The committee formed by the government to decide the minimum support price (MSP) should have at least two farmers as its members, Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agarwal said on Monday.
Taking part in the discussion on Budget 2017-18, Agarwal pointed out that the MSP committee usually consists of IAS officers "who barely know the difference between paddy and wheat".
He said as a result the MSP decided by the committee is often not realistic.
Raising the issue of farmers' debts, Agarwal said the government should come clear on loan waiver for the farmers.
"There is uncertainty over the loan waiver for farmers. The government should come clear on the issue. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had promised if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forms a government in Uttar Pradesh, farmers' loans would be waived in the very first cabinet meet," Agarwal said.
Agarwal asked the government to define a practical threshold for the poverty line.
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"We all speak of the poor. But who is poor? Let's have a clear definition... You (government) may erase the poverty from your stats but not on the ground," he said.
--IANS
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