SHIMLA: Syaunkat Kisan Morcha(SKM) today demanded that the  government should make available fertilizers as per  demand of farmers, restore their subsidy and reduce the prices of fertilizers. HPMC should release of payment worth Rs 65 crore to the farmers, the Morcha said.

SKM appeal to the farmers to unite and fight to reverse the anti-farmers policies and participate enthusiastically in the demonstration to be held on March 28, 2022 at Block, Tehsil and Sub-Division level in the state.

Harish Chauhan, coordinator and  Sanjay Chauhan co- coordinator SKM  said they have left with no option other than staging protest on the non-cooperation of the state government on the 15 issues raised by them over the years.

They stated that the farmers once again raised these issues at SKM’s  meeting here  today while  reviewing its 15-point charter of demands. They also expressed their concerns over the steep increase  in prices of fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides and other input cost items that has aggravated problems of the the farmers in Himachal Pradesh. 

SKM also demanded HPMC and HIMFED should release payment of  Rs 65 crore for the fruit procured under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). “It was decided in this meeting that on March 28, 2022, demonstrations would be held at block, tehsil and sub-division level across the state regarding their demands and the demand letter would be sent to the government”.

The government is not taking any steps to solve the problems of apple and other farmers that they have been raising since long. In the budget also, the government has made no scheme and provision for the benefit of farmers, assistance and subsidies that the government used to provide to farmers and gardeners have also ended and as a result, farmers are being forced to buy expensive fertilizers, seeds, insecticides, fungicides and other costly items from the open market, Morcha leader Harish Chauhan  said.

SKM said prices of fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides and other cost items have been increased by 40 to 100 percent. The price of a bag of manure which was available for Rs 850 has been increased to Rs 1740 this year, but the desirable fertilisers are not available in most parts of the state,  Sanjay Chauhan said.  

The representatives from about 13 organizations of farmers  participated in this meeting. Sanjay Chauhan, Sundar Singh Naita, Sushil Chauhan, Kamalinder Kanwar, Rajinder Chauhan, Jai Singh Jehta, Dimple Panjta, Rajesh Khimta, Satyavan, Kuldeep, Sunil, Sukhdev, Jatindra, Pankaj, Sandeep Verma, Vinod Sharma, Ajay Dulta, Sunil, Pradeep , Rajinder Singh, Sandeep Dishu  participated.    

The members said that despite repeatedly giving demand letters to the farmers, the government is not even talking to the farmers about their legitimate demands, and the anti-farmer face of the government has become clear. The 15-point demand letter has been given to the government several times after August 2021, but the government has dumped into dustbin, they said.

SKM raised a slew of demands  to the government for implementation.

KSM’s Charter of Demands:

1. Fix the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops and make it legally implemented.
2. Establish mandis for the purchase of paddy, wheat, maize and other crops in the state and purchase them under Minimum Support Price (MSP).
3. In Himachal Pradesh also, Mandi Arbitration Scheme (MIS) should be fully implemented on the lines of Kashmir. Rs.60, Rs.44 respectively for apples of A, B while  Rs 24  for the  C-grade under MIS.
4. APMC law should strictly be enforced in all Mandis. The farmers’ produce should be bought in open bidding. The arbitrary charges should be recovered from buyers and bank DD and other charges should be abolished immediately. The market fees being collected from farmers at various barriers in the state should be abolished.
5. The arhtiyas and buyers should make payment on the same day under provisions of the APMC Act in the Mandis. Offenders should be punished under Law.
6. All CA stores should keep 25 percent apples of the famers of both private players like  Adani and other companies.
7. 90 percent grant should be provided by the government to farmers cooperative societies to build CA stores at the local level.
8. The huge increase in the prices of cartons and trays used in the packaging of apples and other fruits, flowers and vegetables should be refunded.
9. The government should provide compensation and relief for the loss caused to farmers and gardeners due to heavy hailstorm and rain, untimely snowfall, drought and other natural calamities in the state.
10. The government should implement the Land Acquisition, 2013 Act (Resettlement, Rehabilitation and four times compensation) in the state.
11. Rising inflation should be stopped and the increase in freight should be withdrawn.
12. In all the mandis of the state, apples and all other crops should be sold on the basis of weight.
13. The apples taken by HPMC and Himfed in the previous years should be paid immediately.
14. The subsidy being given on fertilizers, seeds, insecticides, fungicides and other cost items should be restored and the government should make available quality cost items to the farmers at affordable rates through the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture.
15. The outstanding subsidy of sprayers, tillers, anti-hail nets, etc., used for agriculture and horticulture, should be provided immediately.