Raipur: Chhattisgarh, often referred to as the “Rice bowl of India,” is gearing up for a political showdown as the state heads into the upcoming assembly elections. The battle is primarily between two key contenders, the Congress and the BJP, with paddy emerging as a central focal point in their campaigns.
One notable feature in Chhattisgarh is the state’s commitment to offering its farmers some of the highest prices for paddy. For the 2022-23 crop, farmers received Rs 2,640 per quintal for common paddy and Rs 2,660 for grade ‘A’ paddy. This compensation includes the Central Government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,040-2,060 and a state government bonus of Rs 600.
With a substantial 72.4 percent of the state’s population engaged in farming, farmers form a crucial vote bank in Chhattisgarh. This demographic weight underscores the significance of paddy production and pricing in the state’s electoral landscape.
The upcoming elections for the 90-member state assembly are scheduled to be conducted in two phases on November 7 and 17. Paddy cultivation dominates Chhattisgarh’s agricultural landscape, covering 68.8 percent of the cultivated area, highlighting its central role in the state’s economy.
The state’s farmers have consistently been able to sell their paddy well above the promised MSP, with a 25 percent increase in paddy harvest prices compared to the MSP, according to recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture. This significant boost in farmer income has led to a remarkable 63 percent surge in paddy production over the five-year period from 2017-18 to 2021-22.
In the political arena, the issue of loan waivers for farmers has taken the spotlight, with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, a leader of the Congress party, promising to waive farmers’ loans if re-elected. The focus on enhancing farmer incomes has become a prominent feature of all political parties’ agendas in the state.
While the Narendra Modi government at the national level has implemented several measures to address the needs of farmers, including direct cash transfers, Chhattisgarh has mirrored this approach by introducing various agricultural policies. The state government, led by Bhupesh Baghel, has pledged to raise the paddy purchase price to Rs 3,600 per quintal if the party secures power in the state.
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