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Farmers to oppose wheat import

Moga: Punjab farmers would oppose the Centre's move to import wheat by staging a protest in Delhi on May 22.

"The demonstration is aimed at pressing the Union government to stop importing wheat and instead give Rs 1140 per quintal Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers," Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) President Ajmer Singh told reporters here on Wednesday.

"It is unfortunate that the Centre is ready to pay Rs 1200 per quintal, for import of wheat, but not ready to pay more than Rs 850 per quintal to farmers here," Mr. Singh added. Mr. Ajmer said that the hike of Rs 65 per quintal in the MSP of paddy was not acceptable to farmers as had been recommended by the agriculture price commission.

He added that a five-member farmers' delegation will soon be submitting a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Food Minister Sharad Pawar stressing for a wheat MSP of Rs. 1140 per quintal, an MSP of paddy Rs. 825 per quintal.

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