The Delhi Government on Tuesday organised Agriculture Conference to devise a mechanism to implement Minimum Selling Price (MSP) on the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee Report (2006). Various issues pertaining higher wages, input costs, transport charges and cost of other allied services peculiar to Delhi were discussed.

 Importantly, the proposed MSP with 50 per cent margin at the cost of production is Rs 2616 per quintal for wheat and Rs 2667 quintal for paddy.  “It is likely incur an additional liability of Rs 96.38 crore, if implemented.  Around 20,000 kisan families in Delhi will benefit from this scheme,” quoted the Delhi Government’s statement.

 According to government’s spokesperson, further consultations will be done through Kisan Jansunwai (scheduled in the first week of February) and suggestions from the general public and a committee comprising of various stakeholders will also be considered.

“The recommendations of the committee will be submitted to the Chief Minister for further action.” Citing the incidents of framers’ suicide, Gopal Rai, Development minister, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) pointed out the severity of the present agrarian crisis in the country.

“In order to save farmers, a realistic MSP mechanism as per the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Committee and the requirements of the local farming environments, needs to be effectively introduced,” Rai asserted.

The Delhi Government acknowledged higher cost of production in the farming sector due to higher wages, input costs, transport charges and cost of other allied services in Delhi. Taking these factors into account, the government re-calculated the cost of production of wheat at Rs 1744 per quintal and paddy at Rs 1778 per quintal. 

“The proposed MSP with 50percent margin at the cost of production, is Rs 2616 per quintal and Rs 2667 quintal for wheat and paddy respectively, “The proposed MSP structure is higher than the Government of India MSP by Rs 776 per quintal for wheat and Rs 897 per quintal for paddy.

It is likely  to incur an additional liability of 96.38 crore, if implemented. There will be a separate mechanism for vegetable growers in Delhi,” Said Rai interacting farmers.

In the conference, the representatives of Directorate of Agriculture of Government of Telangana made a presentation on the innovative and technology driven Agriculture Investment Support Scheme (Raythu Bandhu)’.