May 04, 2011

Farmers in Indian state sell wheat lower than minimum price

Due to mismanagement in the purchase of wheat at the minimum support price (MSP), farmers in Madhya Pradesh are forced to sell the foodgrain at a lower price than the minimum support price, stated Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh.

Despite the State's Agriculture Minister Ramkrishna Kusumaria declaring in advance that this year there will be a bumper production of wheat in the state, the concerned agencies have failed to make adequate arrangement for storing the foodgrain, Singh said.

"This situation has forced the farmers to sell their produce at a lower price than the MSP in the state," he alleged. Singh termed this situation as the government's failure and cheating with the farmers.

The senior Congress leader also sought to know from the state government how many jute bags were procured in advance by the Food and Civil Supplies Corporation and MARKFED for storing wheat and demanded that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ensure adequate arrangements for storing the wheat in the state.