Farmers demand jute MSP of Rs 12,000 per quintal & wider procurement outlets
Representatives from the CPI(M), Forward Bloc, Congress and other groups attended the meeting, where they presented a memorandum outlining problems faced by jute cultivators.
The Jute Corporation of India declined to give an immediate statement but, officials at the meeting said, assured delegates that the demands would be considered. (File Photo)
A coalition of farmers’ organisations representing several political parties met a delegation from the Jute Corporation of India (JCI) on Friday and demanded that the minimum support price (MSP) for raw jute be fixed at Rs 12,000 per quintal. The protest, organisers said, sought immediate action to protect growers from exploitation by middlemen and to ensure guaranteed procurement in jute-producing areas.
Representatives from the CPI(M), Forward Bloc, Congress and other groups attended the meeting, where they presented a memorandum outlining problems faced by jute cultivators.
Farid Mollah, a Forward Bloc leader and farmer representative, criticised the existing MSP and procurement arrangements, saying the current system does not serve the interests of growers and that promised JCI outlets in jute-growing areas have yet to open. “MSP has not been set properly for the interests of jute growers,” Mollah said. “Outlets in the jute-growing areas remain closed despite assurances. Other forms of support from JCI have been ignored or addressed casually.It is a very unfortunate event to highlight these lacunae on the part of the JCI West Bengal unit.”
Molla further added, “Therefore we like to renew our demand and cite the problems of jute cultivation to which the JCI and Government are to specially look into. We demanded that the MSP of Jute should be not less than 12000 per quintal.”
The memorandum highlighted the importance of North Bengal as a jute-producing belt and called for immediate procurement and market support there. It noted that the region, which includes districts such as Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda and parts of the Darjeeling subdivision including Siliguri, yields early-season jute that reaches markets in June, earlier than crops from southern parts of the state.
Farmers urged the JCI to open procurement outlets in growing areas to stop middlemen from exploiting producers and to ensure direct purchases at fair prices. Their demands included an immediate revision of the MSP to at least Rs 12,000 per quintal to reflect rising input costs; the formation of a West Bengal Jute Corporation unit to provide subsidised seeds and fertiliser, water tanks for jute processing, and local jute-processing centres on a public sector model; improved marketing infrastructure; and compensation for jute producers in South Bengal who suffered this season.
“We demand that JCI purchase raw jute directly from producers and stop the exploitative role of middlemen,” the Forward Bloc memorandum said, adding that Belakoba in Jalpaiguri is among the state’s highest-quality jute-producing areas and that many livelihoods depend on the crop.
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The Jute Corporation of India declined to give an immediate statement but, officials at the meeting said, assured delegates that the demands would be considered.
Syed Anwar Maqsood, secretary of the Fish Importers’ Association quoted elsewhere on related trade matters, had earlier warned of supply uncertainties in cross-border agricultural markets, a reminder of the fragile economics facing many primary producers.
The farmers’ organisations said they would press the issue further if concrete steps were not announced soon, noting that timely procurement and a realistic MSP are crucial as the jute season advances and markets open.
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
