The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : A dysfunctional MSP exercise

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 19, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

A dysfunctional MSP exercise

Suresh Krishnamoorthy

Valigonda (Nalgonda dist.): In this village that is one among 60 in Andhra Pradesh where the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) undertakes an exercise to study crop-wise farming costs for deciding Minimum Support Price, the field officer who is expected to stay and interact with the farmers every day of the season is nowhere to be seen.

In a three-acre area, including one on lease, K. Narayana Reddy invested Rs. 30,000 and just got Rs.36,000 when he sold his paddy in the open market. The sale proceeds are inclusive of the labour put in by his entire family. He is wise enough to understand that he has actually failed to make money even to cover his labour and a little extra for the six months of toil. Ditto is the case with R. Bikshapathy, G. Ramulu Yadav and Chilakamarri Brahmachari, and other farmers.

Point proved

In a trip to this remote area in a backward district with very little acreage under assured irrigation, M.V. Mysoora Reddy, MP, and CEO, Federation of Farmers’ Associations of AP, K. Prabhakar Reddy proved their point to reporters, saying that none of the 12 factors listed to determine the MSP were taken into account. “One day, a field officer came to my farm along with some senior officials. That is all and we never saw him again. With losses season after season, we will not have enough for two square meals a day, very soon”, an illiterate Mr. Bikshapathy rued.

Dr. Mysoora Reddy asked, “What sort of an exercise is this when the officer does not even visit the farmer, leave alone live in the village for the entire duration of a crop, from sowings to harvest and sale in the market as stipulated by CACP.

Of the 60 identified villages, field officers are in place only at 30. Even here, you have heard farmers speak”.

The MP said the Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party would raise the issue of MSP in the winter session of the Parliament.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh