Farmers at loss over paddy politics

Raipur, December 23

With elections around, politicians suddenly pose themselves as servants of masses. Ask them a favour and they will run for you. With nearing polling date, their dedication towards people increases. This year, the politicians are feeling more pressure as they are compelled to grin for a longer time as the so-called semi-finals termed by BJP and Congress in five states have just concluded and grand finale called general elections is ahead. With bigger target to achieve, the political parties toss major issues to woo voters, especially the vulnerable section including farmers and farm labourers. In Chhattisgarh, while both BJP and Congress are battling hard to prove that they are farmer-friendly parties by playing politics over paddy bonus and minimum support price (MSP) for years, none has done enough for the deserving section by far.

Chhattisgarh, one of the largest paddy producing states, is known as rice bowl of India. It is the third largest State in the country in terms of paddy contribution to central pool. In last 13 years, the paddy procurement in State increased from 25 lakh tonne to 60 lakh tonne. However, as compared to paddy production, the farmers have not received MSP and bonus per quintal of paddy in that proportion.

The paddy MSP, which was Rs 510 in 2000-2001, increased by Rs 740 in 13 years and is Rs 1250 at present.

In 2008, the BJP, in its election manifesto, promised farmers in Chhattisgarh to disburse Rs 270 as bonus for each quintal of paddy. The promise was made for five years but the ruling party rubbed its hands by disbursing Rs 220 bonus in the first year and Rs 50 bonus in subsequent years.

According to a calculation made by opposition Congress, the government procured 35 lakh tonne, 45 lakh tonne, 51 lakh tonne, 59 lakh tonne and 60 lakh tonne in 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 and did not give total bonus of Rs 3880 crore to the farmers.

In recently concluded elections, both BJP and Congress and once again promised the farmers to increase paddy MSP to Rs 2100 and Rs 2000 respectively. After coming to power in the State for third time, CM Raman Singh, on first day at his office, announced that the paddy bonus would also be increased from Rs 270 to Rs 300, however he refrained from talking on paddy MSP. He said it was matter of Centre and he had written it a letter.

In recent past, price rise has broken backbone of farmers. Not only the cost of fertilisers and labour rate have increased by manifold,     the farmers are also bound to pay high power tariff despite the government’s promise that they would get free electricity up to five HP pumps for irrigation. As the loan rates too are high and intermittent rains in State have damaged crops in many parts of State, the farmers have expected that the ruling party would provide them some relief in terms of loan waiver and other benefits while opposition would mount pressure on its government at Centre to increase MSP beyond Rs 2000.

However, neither the BJP, nor Congress seems serious in fulfilling their promises and taking cognisance of farmers’ woes. Rather, they are simply attempting to woo them again on the basis of fresh promises which would never be met.