Shimla, Oct 13
State Unit of Kisan Sabha decided to  observe the minimum support price (MSP) day on 14 October demanding to declare MSP of 1850 on maize as farmers are only getting price of  Rs. 1100 to 1200 per quintal  on the maize selling in this Kharif season. This was a joint statement issued by the  State President of Himachal Pradesh Kissan Sabha Dr. Kuldip Singh Tanwar and State Secy of HKS Dr. Onkar Shad.
”As a country-wide call, Himachal Kisan Sabha in Himachal will observe Minimum Support Price Rights Day and demand from the government that it should implement the recommendations of National Commission on Farmers and give remunerative price to farmers. ” said the farmer leader.
In a press release issued on the eve of Rights Day, the Kisan Sabha reminded the state and the central government of the promises made to the people of the state before the 2014 general elections, in which Shri Narendra Modi promised the farmers that after forming government, the farmers loan will be waived out and they will be given a remunerative price as per the recommendations of the Dr. Swaminathan Commission.
The farmers of Himachal were especially promised that minimum support price will be given for fruits, vegetables, milk, honey and flowers produced in the state. President of Kisan Sabha Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar said that the announcements of Modi have proved to be a sheer lies.
Dr. Tanwar said that along with the Center government, the State Government is also cheating the farmers. Despite the minimum support price of maize declared in the state at Rs 1850, farmers are getting only Rs 1100 to 1200 per quintal.
Millions of farmers in the state who grow about 7 lakh 78 thousand tons of maize are affected, but the government is least bothered about them. On the contrary, the people of the ruling party are engaged in justifying the recently passed anti-farmer bills in Parliament.
It should be noted that the minimum support price for maize, wheat and paddy has been fixed in the state, but neither the  Food Corporation of India procures these crops nor does the government procure these crops by any other means.
The farmer sells his surplus produce of wheat and paddy in the neighboring state of Punjab or Haryana. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) does not buy maize because it is not part of the public distribution system.
Kisan Sabha demands from the government to implement the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers (Dr. Swaminathan Commission).  Govt. should ensure to pay the declared support price for their food grains to the farmers.  Appropriate minimum support price for fruits, flowers, vegetables, milk, honey, wool may be fixed.
