Dr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney, MP Rajya Sabha from Punjab expressed deep concern over the functioning of the Committee formed by the Government in July 2022 to recommend reforms in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism, crop diversification and promote natural farming.
In a question asked by Dr Sahney in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture informed that since the constitution of the committee in July 2022, 6 main meetings have been held in which various representatives of Agriculture Universities and Secretaries of States have been included. Dr. Sahney stated that Vice Chancellor of Premier Agriculture University, PAU Ludhiana and Secretary Agriculture of Punjab being a major Agri state have not been included in the committee.
Dr. Sahney stated that no meeting of the Committee or even any sub-committee have taken place during past 6 months. Dr. Sahney demanded that at least an interim report on the committees recommendation on MSP reforms and crop diversification must be made Public. He also added that the current MSP is announced for 22 crops including Corn, Mustard, cottan and millets, yet farmers have to sell these crops at much below the declared price which is deterring the Crop Diversification.
