MUMBAI: The agrarian distress was one of the major reasons for Mahayuti’s loss in the Lok Sabha elections. In the Assembly polls, barely a few months away, the alliance government has decided to focus on farm issues, especially cotton and soybean growing farmers.
State government sources said the Mahayuti government is contemplating working on either schemes or direct benefits to the cotton and soybean-growing farmers. More than 80% of the farm area comes under two major crops in Maharashtra -- cotton and soyabean.
“If we get a solution for these farmers, then we will be able to get some satisfactory solution ahead of the assembly elections. Cotton growers demand Rs 12,000 per quintal against the government rate of Rs 7,200.
Soybean growers are demanding at least Rs 8,000 per quintal against the government rate of Rs 4,200 per quintal,” said a senior NCP(Ajit) minister.
“The current market rates of these crops have gone below the government rates. Therefore farmers are angry. That is a key factor ahead of the assembly polls,” said the NCP minister.
A Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader said the government was going ahead with huge publicity of Ladli Behna Yojana, three free gas cylinders and reducing the tariff of farm electricity. “However, until agrarian issues are addressed, it will be difficult to counter the farmers’ anger against the government,” he said.
“The government thinks the MSP should be raised to ensure farm produce is purchased at this rate only. The second option is to credit additional compensatory amounts to the cotton and soyabean growers. If this happens, we will turn the tide in our favour and return to power,” he said.
Direct benefits
The state government sources said the Mahayuti government is contemplating working on either schemes or direct benefits to the cotton and soybean growing farmers.