'Punjab oriented': Samyukt Kisan Morcha rejects government's 5-year procurement plan

Farmers body Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which is not part of the current protests and negotiations with the Centre, has rejected the government's proposal of a five-year procurement plan and crop diversification suggestion.

Speaking to the Indian Express newspaper, organisation member Darshan Pal described the proposal as Punjab-oriented, pointing out that it only guarantees compulsory procurement of five crops.

He insisted that MSP should be declared for all 23 crops based on the Swaminathan Commission formula, and not the existing method.

“Though we are not part of the talks with the ministers, the proposal is applicable for the whole farming community… I strongly feel that the proposal is meant to divert and dilute the focal demands of farmers. They have given a proposal to purchase five crops at MSP—maize, cotton, arhar/tur, massur and urad dal. However, this proposal seems to be Punjab-oriented. What about the rest of the farmers?

“The SKM feels that MSP should be determined by following the C2+ 50 per cent formula of Dr MS Swaminathan and be applicable for all the crops… At least they should provide it for all the 23 crops for which they have declared MSP. Apart from this, dairy and other agriculture industries should also be brought under the MSP regime. Himachal Pradesh declared an MSP on milk a few days ago.”

“This proposal, in the view of the SKM, is meant to divert and dilute the demand for MSP @ C2+50 per cent for all crops with guaranteed procurement, which was promised in the BJP’s 2014 general election manifesto and originally recommended by the MS Swaminathan commission,” Pal added.

“If the Modi government is unable to implement the promise made by BJP, the prime minister should be be honest to tell that to the people,” said Prem Singh Bhangu, president of the All India Kisan Federation.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and SKM (non-political) are yet to respond to the proposal.