The CPI(M) in Odisha today urged the state government to fix the minimum support price (MSP) of the different agriculture products, including paddy.
The party demanded the MSP on agriculture products at least 50 per cent higher than the cost of production.
"The National Farmers' Commission (NFC) headed by the noted agriculture scientist Prof M S Swaminathan had recommended the government in this regard. The government is needed to implement the same recommendations to provide remunerative prices to the farmers on their products," CPM's state unit secretary Janardan Pati said here.
Pati inaugurated a workshop on the problems of the farmers organised by the Krushak Sabha, the farmers' wing of the party. General Secretary, Krushak Sabha Biju Krishnan, Jaganath Mishra and Ali Patnaik were also addressed.
The CPM leader also urged the government to take over total marketing of the products of the farmers. "It will arrest the distress sale of the products if the government take up marketing," he said.
These measures are need to be implemented as several thousands of farmers had committed suicides in the states like Odisha and Maharashtra, he stated.
Citing various input costs and their prevalent market prices, the CPM leaders said in absence of any profit, the farmers continue to be trapped in vicious cycle of debt and end up committing suicide.
The Commission of Agricultural Cost and Prices (CACP) should consider these aspects and taken into account of the recommendations of the NFC while fixing the MSP, Pati said.
