Lok Satta wants Centre to hike MSP for paddy

Hyderabad, Oct 19 (UNI) Lok Satta National Coordinator Jayaprakash Narayana today asked the to Centre increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy from Rs 695 to Rs 1,000 per quintal eliminating the disparity between the procurement prices of wheat and paddy.

Addressing the press here, Mr Narayana said paddy farmers were in distress duo to lack of sufficient MSP for the produce.

Stating Lok Satta had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to take steps to increase the MSP for paddy, he said reforms in marketing, trade and distribution policies must be brought about for farmers' uplift.

Demanding the Centre also rationalise agriculture trade policies and announce 'export-import agriculture policy,' which would benefit the farmers in the long-term, Mr Narayana said the party constituted a study committee comprising experts to examine issues related to the agriculture sector.

The committee's first meeting would be held on October 27 in the city. It would prepare a plan of action in three months and submit it to the government.

UNI