Farmers demand budget allocation for MSP Guarantee; warn of intensified protests
HARISH MONGA
Ferozepur, February 1, 2025: Ahead of the Union Budget, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has reiterated the demand for a special budgetary allocation to implement a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Meanwhile, the Union Government has invited farmer leaders for talks on February 14, but unions believe the dialogue will be futile if the budget does not include provisions for an MSP guarantee.
In a video message, Pandher stressed that if the government is serious about addressing farmers’ concerns, it must earmark funds in the budget, citing an estimate by CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics (CRISIL MI&A), which projected ₹21,000 crore for the 2023 agriculture marketing year.
He also criticized the drastic reduction of the agriculture budget, pointing out that despite 60-65% of India's population relying on agriculture and rural livelihoods, the government has allocated only 3% of the total Union Budget to the sector.
Pandher reaffirmed that the fight for MSP will continue, highlighting that farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a hunger strike since November 26. With Farmer Andolan 2 nearing its one-year mark, farmers are preparing for a massive protest in the coming days.