Speaking to reporters, he said that over and above the MSP fixed by the Centre, the State government will give Rs 100 incentive to the farmer on every quintal of paddy.
Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti said the Centre has fixed MRP of Rs 1,030 per quintal of grade I paddy and Rs 1,000 per quintal of grade II paddy. About 10 procurement centres will be opened across paddy growing districts including Davanagere, Raichur and Koppal, he added.
A kg of sona masuri rice costs between Rs 30 and 35 in the open market. But the farmer gets only Rs 1,000 per quintal of paddy. The Centre has taken the decision to hike the MSP by Rs 80 per quintal with effect from September 1 this year. The hike is very meagre and will not help the farmers, he added.
The State, he said, has been urging the Centre to hike the MSP to at least Rs 1,500 per quintal. A delegation led by the Chief Minister will soon meet the Union Agriculture Minister in this regard, the Minister said.
Katti alleged the Centre has not provided fertiliser as per the stipulated allotment. The Centre had allotted 8.40 lakh tonnes of fertiliser, including DAP, MOP, Complex and Urea, for three months of April, May and June this year to the State. It has, however, released only 5.40 lakh tonnes, he said and added that the Chief Minister-led delegation will also raise this issue with the Centre.
The minister said the State has, however, ensured adequate supply to farmers as it has maintained about five lakh tonnes of buffer stock.
Suvarna Bhoomi launch
Katti said the government will launch Suvarna Bhoomi scheme (to distribute
Rs 10,000 to each of the 10 lakh small farmers) on June 20. The Chief Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the scheme, he added. The Karnataka High Court had on Friday criticised the government for its decision to select the beneficiaries under the scheme through a draw of lots and directed it to provide all details of the scheme within 10 days.
