Press Release from S.Sukhpal Singh Khaira MLA

23-07-09

Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji,

Hon’ble Prime Minister

India

Subject: Request for adequate MSP for the current Paddy crop.

Sir,

As you are aware there has been deficient rainfall in the country this monsoon season, thus as a result the paddy crop has taken a severe beating. Being a farmer myself, I can put on record great difficulties faced by farmers to sow paddy and then maintain the crop despite heavy odds.

In the case of Punjab, shortage of power has doubly added to the woes of farmers since approximately 13 Lac tubewells in the state are dependant on power. In order to sow and maintain their crop the farmers utilized diesel operated generators to run their tubewells as a result a minimum of Rs. 5000 per acre was spent on diesel this season. Besides due to low voltage and poor quality of power electric motors operating tubewells got burnt in large numbers. Transformers when damaged are usually the burden of the farmer for repair since the Punjab State Electricity Board is presently under a heavy debt of approx. Rs. 19000 Crores. As a result of all these practical shortcomings the cost of input of every farmer has gone up manifold to produce paddy.

It is also pertinent to mention that at present there is a debt of Rs. 35000 Crores on the farmers of Punjab with Rs. 41800 debt on each farm hold against an all India average of Rs. 11750. A recent sample study conducted by the State Govt. through Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana has revealed more than 2890 suicidal deaths from 2000-2008 in the two districts of Bathinda and Sangrur alone. As the farmers of Punjab were not defaulters therefore much benefit could not be availed by them for the debt waiver scheme offered by the Govt of India.

In general too the agrarian economy has been on the slide in the country, therefore I would suggest that keeping in view the extra ordinary conditions prevailing due to poor monsoons the farmers must be compensated with an increase of Rs. 250 per quintal in the MSP. This increase would go a long way to compensate for the extra ordinary high cost of input incurred by the farmers this year. I hope your Govt. would take a compassionate view in the matter to mitigate the suffering of the farmers.

Thanking you,

With Warm Regards,

Sukhpal Singh Khaira

MLA Bholath

CC: - Sh. Sharad Pawar

Minister for Agriculture

G.O.I