News Delhi: Punjab farmers are unhappy with the Rs 40 hike in minimum support price (MSP) for wheat announced by Union government on Wednesday for 2022-2023.
Only the 2.03 per cent increase the lowest in 12 years by the government, has sparked a row and farmers termed it as Centre’s “revenge” against the agitating farmers against the three contentious agri laws. Some farmer unions said that MSP for the most Rabi crops, which has been increased between 2 per cent to 8.6 per cent, have actually reduced in real terms by 4 per cent compared to the last year.
Rejecting the hike, Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan state secretary Shingara Singh Mann said that BJP government’s this meagre increase in wheat prices does not even cover the cost of increased diesel prices and government should have considered Swaminathan Commission report that hike must be given considering all actual expenses should be calculated and the prices of all crops fixed at reasonable profit.