Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announces MSP for moong dal, but with a rider
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said this was the first time that the state government had promised to purchase a crop other than paddy or wheat on MSP.
4 min read
The announcement comes a few days after the government had announced a bonus of Rs 1,500 per acre to paddy farmers if they take to Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) technique to save ground water. (File Photo)In a decision aimed at encouraging farmers towards diversification, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Friday announced minimum support price (MSP) for moong dal (lentils) and assured farmers that the government would lift the crop if they go ahead and cultivate it. He said this was the first time that the state government had promised to purchase a crop other than paddy or wheat on MSP.
“We will give MSP. However, there is a precondition that the farmers will have to take up either PR-126 or Basmati later,” Mann said in a video message.
Farmer unions, however, remained sceptical and said that they will believe the government’s promises only when it actually happens.
On Friday, Mann said farmers should sow moong right away. “Even if you sow it till May 20, it will work. The crop takes 55 days to mature,” he said.
The announcement comes a few days after the government had announced a bonus of Rs 1,500 per acre to paddy farmers if they take to Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) technique to save ground water. Friday’s announcement can complement DSR technique also. If accepted by farmers, these announcements could go a long way in conserving the state’s fast-depleting aquifers which threaten to turn Punjab into a desert in less than three decades.
The PR-126 variety is among the most sought-after short-duration variety of paddy developed by the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU). It takes 123 days to mature if grown through the DSR technique.
The Centre has fixed MSP for moong at Rs 7,275 per quintal and it is being cultivated in 77,000 acres this year as compared to 50,000 acres last year.
Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, general secretary of BKU-Ugrahan, said,”We welcome the initiative, but the Chief Minister needs to assure us that all 23 of our crops will be purchased at MSP and not just wheat, rice and now moong. The policy to buy moong on MSP was always there. But previous governments refused to honour it. Hence, we want to wait and watch for now.”
Kokrikalan added that the MSP of Rs 7275 per quintal announced by the Central government for moong was too less and it wouldn’t even cover the input cost of the farmers. “Also, it is surprising that they are focusing just on the farmers and want us to save water. Why are the distilleries, who use gallons of water to make alcohol and later pollute the drinking water too, not questioned?” he asked.
“Give us MSP on sunflower, maize, bajra too and we will stop growing paddy at all in Punjab,” he said.
Buta Singh Burjgill, president of BKU-Dakaunda, too added,”Sometimes discolouration of the crop happens. So, we never know as to what conditions they impose while purchasing the crop. It is difficult to trust governments these days. The government is still mum over bonus for farmers due to loss in yield of wheat crop this year.”
Meanwhile, sources from the state’s agriculture department revealed that the maximum sowing of moong has already happened and they can expect a growth in area under sowing of not more than 5,000 acres given the amount of seeds in the market this year.
Jagseer Singh Jhumba, a Bathinda-based farmer said, “We want the government to announce the MSP on basmati too and make dynamic efforts to export wheat in war hit countries and share the profit with farmers.”
— With ENS, Chandigarh
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