PADDY PRICES AND THE TWO GOVERNMENTS

PADDY PRICES AND THE TWO GOVERNMENTS

15-DEC-ENG 6

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Shahabad in Bihar is the rice bowl of the state. Why did the Indian government reduce the target for paddy procurement through PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies) in Bihar this time compared to the last time? The Bihar government readily agreed to the reduced target. The rate is ₹2,369 per quintal for ordinary paddy and ₹2,389 per quintal for Grade-A paddy.

The market price of paddy, or the price offered by traders, has fallen from 2,000 or 2,300 rupees to 1,700 to 1,800 rupees per quintal. Due to the rains after the Hathiya constellation, this year's paddy crop and its yield after threshing are significantly lower. When paddy production is low, will the market price fall or rise? The weather has spoiled the overall quality of the paddy in terms of husk, moisture content, and other factors. The cost of labor, fertilizers, seeds, treatment, and irrigation in paddy production has increased compared to last year. All this is happening with the full knowledge of the governments.

When the public votes based on caste interests, party interests, personal interests, and the promise of 10,000 rupees in cash, instead of farmers' interests, who will come forward to raise their voice against the falling paddy prices and the governments' decision to reduce the paddy procurement target instead of providing disaster relief?

The issue of paddy prices is currently a major one, but only the farmers who produce the paddy will pay the price, not those who are guilty and responsible for this situation.

Currently, those in power are engrossed in celebrations and comfort, and the opposition has

no interest in finding and addressing issues of public interest.