Garhshankar (Hari Krishan Gangar):- The Kul Hind Kisan Sabha has rejected the meagre increase in the prices of wheat and other crops and demanded remunerative prices along with a guarantee of government procurement. State Secretary Comrade Gurnek Singh Bhajjal said that the costs of diesel, petrol, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, labour and agricultural machinery have increased significantly. The marginal increase in crop prices does not do justice to the rising costs being borne by farmers and has further aggravated the debt-driven economic crisis faced by them.

State Vice President Darshan Singh Mattu, District Secretary Asha Nand and District President Achhar Singh said that while calculating crop prices, the cost of land rent, depreciation of machinery, irrigation, electricity, labour, interest and family labour, along with the cost of seeds, fertilizers and diesel, should be included. In addition, at least 50 per cent profit should be ensured in accordance with the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.

The Kul Hind Kisan Sabha put forward five major demands:

  1. The price of wheat and all other crops should be fixed by adding at least 50 per cent profit to the total cost of production, in accordance with the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.
  2. A legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be provided for all major crops so that farmers are not forced to sell their produce below the cost of production.
  3. Government procurement should be strengthened and made timely, transparent and uninterrupted in every grain market.
  4. The steep increase in the prices of diesel, petrol, fertilizers, seeds and pesticides should be stopped, and agricultural inputs should be made available at reasonable rates.
  5. Interest-free or low-interest agricultural loans should be provided, along with an effective loan waiver.
  6. The leaders said that a guarantee of government procurement and remunerative crop prices is essential for increasing farmers’ income and providing relief from the ongoing crisis. They said that fixing meagre prices while ignoring the cost of labour and production would further worsen the farmers’ crisis.
  7. They warned that if immediate steps are not taken to address these demands, farmer organisations will intensify their democratic struggle.