Summary:
The government’s MSP announcement for wheat and paddy crops was not welcomed by the farmers. Aurangabad: The All Indian Farmers Coordination Action Committee (AIFCAC), along with Swaraj Abhiyan, staged a demonstration outside the revenue divisional commissionerate on Friday.The AIFCAC is an umbrella organisation of farmers from across the country. Leaders also demanded pension for farmers as well as a reasonable MSP so that it not only boosts the economy of the farmers, but also that of the country.The leaders even blamed the poor MSP as one of the reasons that led to farmer suicides across the country. Because of this, farmers ended up selling tur to private traders for anything between Rs 3,500 and Rs 3,200.According to available data, the procurement centre purchased 1,500 quintal tur the entire season, while the private traders purchased 40,000 quintal tur in Aurangabad alone.A farmers’ leader said through the agitation, they are trying to convey the ground realities. The demonstrators alleged that the Centre had cheated farmers by promising to provide Minimum Support Price (MSP).The farmers alleged that the government’s advertisements were “boastful” about the increased MSP and was nothing but “self-appreciation”.Activists from different walks of life came down heavily on the Centre for betraying the farming community.Social activist Subhash Lomte told TOI, “On calculating the MSP announced by the Centre, we came to the conclusion that farmers are likely to face 40% losses..