What is not feasible shouldn’t be discussed, Tomar on MSP law

New Delhi, Dec 9 : Allaying the apprehensions of farmers that procurement at MSPs will be stopped in the wake of the new farm laws, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said there is no need to hold discussion on a new law on MSPs if it is not even feasible in the first place.
“What is not feasible should not be discussed,” he told IANS on Tuesday when asked about the possibility of bringing forth a new law on the issue, as demanded by the farmers as a guarantee for Minimum Support Price system’s continuation.
He said that fears on discontinuation of MSP system were “baseless” and asserted that the Centre was ready to assure them on the issue again.
“The purchase of crops at Minimum Support Price will continue. The government is ready to assure the farmers on the issue of MSPs,” he said.
Experts are also of the opinion that it is not feasible to guarantee MSPs of all crops to farmers and ban on purchase of crops below MSPs for private traders.
In order to ensure remunerative prices to farmers, the central government declares MSPs for 23 crops in Kharif and Rabi seasons every year on the recommendation of the Agricultural Cost and Price Commission (ACPC). Crops like paddy, wheat, oilseeds and pulses are procured by the government at MSPs.