BKS appeals to PM to hike MSP for paddy

Tiruchirapalli, Nov 30 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu unit of Bharatiya Kisan Sangam today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to hike the Minimum Support Price of paddy to Rs 1,000 per quintal on par with wheat.

In his memorandum to Dr Singh, State Unit General Secretary P Ayyakannu pointed out that it was an irony that the Union Government was turning a blind eye the plight farmers in the state.

He also pointed out that paddy farmers could get at least Rs 16,000 per acre for paddy cultivation. But they were incurring a loss of Rs 3,000 per acre.

If the Centre provided Rs 1,000 per quintal as MSP for paddy, they could make both ends meet.

In another incident in the district, tension prevailed for a while when a section of farmers of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangam led by state unit general secretary and other farmers representing various farmers associations attempted to pour the paddy at the Collectorate here today before the commencement of the monthly agriculturalists grivance day meeting.

The farmers resorted to pouring paddy agitation to draw the Centre's attention to fixing of MSP at Rs 1,000 per quintal of paddy.

Later, District Collector Asish Vachani, who presided over the meeting, assured them to take up the matter with the concerned officials, following which the agitation was withdrawn.

UNI