Farmers might lose about Rs 36,000 crore in seven kharif crops including paddy if they do not get the government fixed minimum support price (MSP), coalition of farmers bodies AIKSCC claimed today.
The loss figures are based on rough assessment, but the ground reality will be showcased through a nation-wide campaign 'Kisan Ki Loot' wherein farmers will tell their stories through info-pic, it said.
A 'Kisan Mukti Sansad' will also be organised on November 20 in the national capital to debate on remunerative price, loan waiver and other demands of farmers.
Highlighting the growing farmers' distress, All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) Convener V M Singh said, "Prices have fallen below the MSP and farmers are not able to even recover the cost of production."
For instance, urad MSP is Rs 5,400 per quintal, but the current market rate is Rs 3,189 per quintal. Groundnut MSP is Rs 4,450 per quintal but the market rate is lower at Rs 3,834 per quintal, he said.
Just by not getting the support price, total loss to be incurred by farmers is estimated to be Rs 35,968 crore in seven kharif crops -- paddy, maize, bajra, soyabean, groundnut, urad and cotton -- he said at a press conference.
These are the most conservative estimates. In reality, the announced MSPs are highly inadequate, he added.
MSP is the rate at which the government buys grain from farmers. It fixes support price for 14 kharif crops and seven rabi crops, but procurement usually happens only for wheat, paddy and some pulses. It procures other crops only when prices fall below the MSP.
AIKSCC members including farmer leaders Yogendra Yadav and Raju Shetty said the government has failed to fulfil its poll promise of giving 50 per cent profit over the cost of production.
"The loss faced by farmers is estimated to be more than Rs 2 lakh crore in this kharif season in seven crops because of not implementing the election promise," they said.
This "massive injustice" in prices is pushing farmers into debt and suicides across the country, they claimed.
AIKSCC is a coalition of more than 180 organisations.
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