Hooda hails hike in MSP of wheat

Chandigarh, Oct 30 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today hailed the Centre's decision of hiking the minimum support price of wheat for ensuing the rabi season by Rs 100 per quintal.

He expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, All India Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for the hike.

The Chief Minister said last year, the Central Government had announced a minimum support price of wheat at Rs 650 per quintal which had now been increased to Rs 750 per quintal and said Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi were of the view that the country would not become prosperous unlesss the condition of the farmers improved.

The Chief Minister maintained that the Central Government had also reduced the rate of interest on agricultural loans besides increasing the budget for the sector. He said the state government had also taken a number of steps keeping in view the interest of the farming community. These include the highest rate of Rs 135 per quintal for sugarcane, exemption of registration fee on tractors, exemption of sales tax on gypsum and waiving of power arrear bills amounting to Rs. 1600 crore.

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