New Delhi, Feb 14: Even as
crucial BJP-ruled states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have
announced agriculture loan waiver schemes for distressed farmers, Madhya
Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was here on Tuesday,
categorically ruled it out in his state.
``No loan waiver, only fair price for farm produce,’’ he told
UNI when asked if the state was considering a debt waiver scheme like Rajasthan
had announced on Monday.
This is the first time since the farmers agitation broke out in Mandsaur district last year that the Chief Minister has spoken on debt waiver scheme for farmers in the state.
Mr Chouhan was here to discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi some modifications in the Bhavantar Bhugtan scheme that involves payment of difference between mandi prices and the government-set minimum support price to farmers. The modification includes the state bearing storage cost for farmers' produce for four months till prices stabilise.
There was speculation in political circles that Madhya Pradesh government might succumb to the demand looking to the agitation by the farmers’ organisations.
Mr. Chouhan said the Madhya Pradesh government will now bear the storage cost of holding farmers’ produce for four months if they do not get the minimum support price (MSP) in the mandi.
``Madhya Pradesh government has introduced the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojna. We are modifying the scheme by allowing farmers to hold (store) their produce in warehouses for four months in case they do not get the MSP in the mandi. For this we will bear the rental cost,’’ he said.
Mr. Chouhan said under the new plan, if farmers need money immediately, they will be able to avail 25 per cent advance on their stored produce through banks, which the government will facilitate.
``When the prices stabilise and farmers sell their crop, they will first return the 25 per cent advance to the banks. Any interest accruing on it will be borne by the government,’’ he said.
The Bhavantar scheme involves payment to farmers of the difference between the government announced MSP and the mandi price. If the mandi price falls below the MSP, then the MP government pays to the farmers the difference under the Bhavantar scheme.
Last year farmers in the state had to throw away their surplus potatoes, onions and tomatoes as well as milk on the roads after being denied remunerative price.
Mr. Chouhan also met Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari, with whom he discussed the Ken-Betwa link project as well as Bharatmala roads project.
``I thanked Mr. Gadkari for the Bharatmala 7000-km roads project. Madhya Pradesh got one express highway between Indore and Bhopal. Lots of other projects were also accepted,’’ he said. UNI
This is the first time since the farmers agitation broke out in Mandsaur district last year that the Chief Minister has spoken on debt waiver scheme for farmers in the state.
Mr Chouhan was here to discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi some modifications in the Bhavantar Bhugtan scheme that involves payment of difference between mandi prices and the government-set minimum support price to farmers. The modification includes the state bearing storage cost for farmers' produce for four months till prices stabilise.
There was speculation in political circles that Madhya Pradesh government might succumb to the demand looking to the agitation by the farmers’ organisations.
Mr. Chouhan said the Madhya Pradesh government will now bear the storage cost of holding farmers’ produce for four months if they do not get the minimum support price (MSP) in the mandi.
``Madhya Pradesh government has introduced the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojna. We are modifying the scheme by allowing farmers to hold (store) their produce in warehouses for four months in case they do not get the MSP in the mandi. For this we will bear the rental cost,’’ he said.
Mr. Chouhan said under the new plan, if farmers need money immediately, they will be able to avail 25 per cent advance on their stored produce through banks, which the government will facilitate.
``When the prices stabilise and farmers sell their crop, they will first return the 25 per cent advance to the banks. Any interest accruing on it will be borne by the government,’’ he said.
The Bhavantar scheme involves payment to farmers of the difference between the government announced MSP and the mandi price. If the mandi price falls below the MSP, then the MP government pays to the farmers the difference under the Bhavantar scheme.
Last year farmers in the state had to throw away their surplus potatoes, onions and tomatoes as well as milk on the roads after being denied remunerative price.
Mr. Chouhan also met Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari, with whom he discussed the Ken-Betwa link project as well as Bharatmala roads project.
``I thanked Mr. Gadkari for the Bharatmala 7000-km roads project. Madhya Pradesh got one express highway between Indore and Bhopal. Lots of other projects were also accepted,’’ he said. UNI
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