Farmer Leader Shivkumar Kakka Demands Higher Prices for Crops in Indore
Farmer leader and national president of the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, Shivkumar Kakka, has warned that farmers’ protests will intensify if the government does not increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for soybean and other crops.
Press Conference in Indore
During a press conference in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Kakka demanded the introduction of a law based on the ‘C2+50%’ formula for MSP evaluation. This formula, recommended by the Swaminathan Commission, ensures that the MSP for crops is at least 50% higher than the weighted average cost of production.
Details of the C2+50% Formula
The ‘C2′ refers to the cost of production, which includes paid-out costs, the imputed value of family labour, the rental value of owned land, and interest on fixed capital. Kakka emphasized that the government should guarantee timely procurement of farmers’ produce.
Demands for Higher MSP
Kakka stated, “The Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh has been protesting across the state for the last two months to demand an increase in the MSP for soybean and other crops. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union Ministers promised that farmers would be given one and a half times the cost of production for every crop. However, it seems the government is reneging on these promises, which is why we are intensifying our agitation across the entire state.”
He further demanded that the MSP for soybean should be raised from Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 per quintal, cotton between Rs 12,000 and Rs 14,000 per quintal, and maize between Rs 3,000 and Rs 3,500 per quintal. Additionally, red chilli should be included in the category of spices.
Land Acquisition Act
Kakka also stressed the need for improvements to the Land Acquisition Act, stating that agricultural land should not be acquired under any circumstances. If agricultural land is acquired due to a disaster, farmers should be compensated at ten times the market price.
Ongoing Protests
Farmers have been protesting across the state, demanding an increase in the MSP for soybean from Rs 4,892 to Rs 6,000 per quintal. They claim that they are not receiving fair prices for their crops and are unable to recover their costs at the current MSP.
Doubts Revealed
Shivkumar Kakka -: Shivkumar Kakka is a leader who speaks up for farmers. He wants to make sure farmers get good prices for their crops.
Indore -: Indore is a big city in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It’s known for its food and culture.
Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh -: This is a group that helps farmers and workers in India. They work to make sure farmers get fair treatment.
Minimum Support Price (MSP) -: MSP is the lowest price the government promises to pay farmers for their crops. It helps farmers earn enough money.
C2+50% formula -: This is a way to calculate how much money farmers should get for their crops. It includes the cost of growing the crops plus 50% extra.
Land Acquisition Act -: This is a law about how the government can take land from people for projects like roads or buildings. It also talks about how much money people should get for their land.
procurement -: Procurement means buying something. In this case, it means the government buying crops from farmers.
