Farmers Movement Archive

AP allays farmers’ fears, announces MSP for almost all crops

AMARAVATI: Taking the lead in allaying the fears of farmers following the Centre’s new legislation on agriculture reforms, the YS Jaganmohan Reddy government has announced minimum support prices (MSP) for almost all the crops produced in the state. The government also promised to pick up stocks from growers if they fail to get MSP for their crops from private traders. Announcing the MSP much before the beginning of the crop season can motivate farmers to go for more remunerative crops. In fact, the government has taken the bold initiative of announcing minimum support price for some commercial crops which were not covered by MSP till now. It has also fixed the procurement schedule for two separate crop seasons — Kharif and Rabi — while announcing the minimum support prices. “It is our promise to declare MSP for all crops before the beginning of the crop season. We will go to any extent to extend support to farmers,” agriculture minister Kurasala Kannababu said. While the Centre declares MSP for food grains and a few commercial crops, majority of crops cultivated in AP were not covered under the Centre’s MSP guidelines. Interestingly, AP has announced MSP even for perishable horticulture crops like banana and onion. There was some apprehension among farmers about the MSP policy after the new farm Bills paved the way for contract farming, and removal of market regulations on hoarding of stocks by merchants. The Centre has been claiming that its ‘one nation, one market’ legislation would help farmers get more prices for their produce, as the present rule to sell their agriculture yields within the local market yard was not giving them decent prices. However, farmers in many northern states have hit the streets against the new legislations as they fear corporate firms will enter the agriculture sector on the pretext of contract farming. In this background, AP is the first state to declare MSP for all crops. It had already declared MSP for tobacco and cotton, which are mainly procured by central agencies and private players. The government also declared MSP for cash crops like chilli and turmeric which were not covered by MSP. In fact, Jagan’s courageous move to purchase tobacco through AP Markfed has helped growers come out of debts. “Tobacco growers got nearly Rs 150 crore additional revenue and came out of red only due to AP government’s initiative,” tobacco board chairman and BJP leader Yadlapati Raghunatha Babu admitted. Agriculture Mission vice-chairman MVS Nagireddy said the government has already set up over 10,000 Rythu Bharosa Kendras across the state to provide guidance to farmers on cultivation of remunerative crops.

The Times of India

2020-10-02

Vijayawada