No MSP on maize in Tarn Taran

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, June 8

Even though the central government has fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of maize at Rs 1,850 this year, there is no procurement of the crop by any agency across the state. The arrival of the crop in the local grain market began a week ago.

Major Singh, a farmer from Verowal village at the market, said the crop was procured at Rs 1,550 per quintal on Monday, and it further sold at Rs 1,525 on Tuesday. Major Singh, who is a regular maize producer, said the crop sold at Rs 750 to Rs 1,250 last year.

Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, president, Kisan Sangharash Committee, Punjab, said the central and state governments had been asking the farmers to adopt crop diversification and come out of traditional wheat-paddy cycle, but was denying them the MSP on most of the crops, including pulses and maize.

Kuljit Singh Chief Agriculture Officer said there was no surety of MSP on maize, because of which farmers were not ready to adopt crop diversification.