BJD MP Dr Sasmit Patra Urges Center to Resolve Odisha Farmers’ Issues

New Delhi: Biju Janata Dal Member of Parliament Dr. Sasmit Patra has urged the Union Government to resolve various issues related to the farmers of Odisha. Raising his questions during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Sasmit asked the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare regarding the steps being taken by the Ministry to address the issues of delay in payments of Fasal Bima Yojana to the farmers in Odisha. He said, large number of farmers take up paddy farming in the coastal, southern and western Odisha and many times due to natural calamities they have to face losses. Non-payments and delayed payments of crop insurance to the farmers of Odisha have resulted in suffering for them.

In his Supplementary Question, Sasmit also asked about the steps being taken by the Ministry to help the farmers of Odisha who face distress due to natural calamities apart from NDRF and SDRF. “What are the measures for their development, recovery and progress being planned after suffering such hardships”. In his question, Sasmit said “the Government of India needs to ensure timely payments of Fasal Bima to the farmers failing which they have to undergo a lot of suffering. The MSP of paddy at Rs. 2930 per quintal needs to be fixed by the Government of India which will enable farmers to have the right price for their produce. The Government of India needs to implement all the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report including providing MSP at 1.5 times of the C2 value for the farmers at least, he urged the Center.