SHIMLA: Samyukt Kisan Manch(SKM) of 30 Farmers Organisations plead that the farmers of the country, especially the apple farmers of Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir and Uttarakhand, have been cheated by the central government by cutting the budget of Mandi Mediation Scheme (MIS).
On the one hand, under the pressure of the farmer's movement, Centre is agreeing to legally implement the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
On the other hand, the Centre is ending the Mandi Mediation Scheme (MIS).
The government had made a provision of Rs 1550 crore in the last year's budget for Mandi Mediation Scheme (MIS).
This year's budget has only a provision of Rs one lakh.
Under the MIS, the government purchases those crops in the country which are not given the minimum support price (MSP) so that the farmers do not get low prices in the mandis.
In these, mainly crops like Apple, Kinnow, Orange, Potato, Onion, Garlic, Cabbage, Coconut, Coriander, Chilli, Black Pepper, Clove, Mustard etc. have been procured.
For this, 50:50 percent funds are made available by the Center and the States, said the convenor of SKM Harish Chauhan and co-convener Sanjay Chauhan.
In Himachal Pradesh, this scheme was started from the year 1987-88. Under this, apple and kinnow crops are procured so that control can be kept on farmers' crop, preventing it from falling below the minimum level in mandis.
In the year 2022, the Himachal Pradesh government has procured apples worth about Rs 90 crore under the Mandi Mediation Scheme (MIS) and the procurement of Kinnow is in addition to this.
At present, the bagwaas have yet to get Rs 100 crore from the government.
Central and state government provide funds for this in the ratio of 50:50.
The horticulturists of the state will face a lot of trouble if the central government ends the budget available for this, caution Sanjay Chauhan.
Samyukta Kisan Manch demands that Central Government should immediately withdraw the decision of reduction in the budget of MIS and a provision of at least Rs.5000 crore should be made in this budget.
If the government does not implement this demand, then the United Kisan Manch will organize a big movement by taking all the farmer and Bagwans' organizations together.
