Chandigarh, September 11- To express gratitude to Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal for announcing the highest Minimum Support Price (MSP) of sugarcane in the country and the decision of the Centre to enhance the MSP of six Rabi crops, hundreds of farmers reached Chandigarh today under the leadership of BJP State President, Sh. Om Prakash Dhankar.

Delighted with the successive steps taken by the Government in the interest of agriculture, the farmers honoured the Chief Minister by presenting bouquets made from sugarcane plants and millets. The farmers also offered sweets to the Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal and BJP State President Sh. Om Prakash Dhankar. Many farmers expressed gratitude by offering Siropa and turban to the Chief Minister for increasing the Minimum Support Price even before the sowing of Rabi crops.

Overwhelmed with the positive response and respect rendered by the farmers, the Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that the State had increased the price of sugarcane earlier as well as this time also and will increase it again next year. He said he will ensure that farmers do not face any loss.

Referring to the Punjab Government, the Chief Minister said that the neighbouring State has increased the price of sugarcane after four years as the State elections were approaching, whereas the Haryana Government has been increasing the price of sugarcane continually and it is not because of any State Elections. Haryana is the first State in the country where the highest price of sugarcane is being given, he pointed out. This year also, the Haryana Government has increased the price of sugarcane by Rs. 12/- per quintal, now the effective price has been increased from Rs. 350/- to Rs. 362/-. This is not only the highest MSP in the country, but it is also Rs. 2/- more than the neighbouring State of Punjab, where elections are nearing.

Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi for declaring Minimum Support Price for Rabi crops much before the sowing season, Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that the Prime Minister's vision is to double the income of farmers by the year 2022.  He added that during the tenure of previous Congress Governments the Minimum Support Price for crops was usually announced when crops were already sold by the farmers at very low prices.

The Chief Minister said that at present both the Central and State Government are taking initiatives for betterment of the farmers due to which the farmers are getting optimum prices for their crops.

He said that when he got information that this time there will be less rain during the monsoon season, he immediately directed the officers to provide electricity to the farmers for at least 10 hours in the agriculture sector. He said that at present, 24 hours electricity is being provided in 5700 villages of the State.

The Chief Minister enumerated the benefits accrued to the farmers by transferring  the price of their crops directly to their bank accounts and informed that interest will be given to the farmers if the money is not transferred to their accounts within 72 hours post the procurement of the crops.

Giving information about the efforts being made by the State Government to increase the income of small farmers, he said that they are being given credit facilities in Agro-Based Industries and Animal Husbandry Business.

State President of BJP, Sh. Om Prakash Dhankhar thanked the farmers on behalf of the Prime Minister for significant increase in the minimum support price of six Rabi crops and the Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal for giving the highest price of sugarcane in the country and said that the farmers of Haryana are exhilarated with the Government initiatives.

On this occasion, Sh. Ram Swaroop, a farmer from Jind, thanked the Chief Minister for increasing the minimum support price of millet, while Sh. Naushad, a farmer from Yamunanagar district, thanked him for giving the highest price of sugarcane in the country. Similarly, many farmers including farmers like Sardar Surendra Cheema and Sardar Kartar Singh expressed happiness and congratulated Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal over the increase in the minimum support price of crops by the Central and State Government.

In the program, Chief Minister's OSD, Sh. Bhupeshwar Dayal and Chief Media Advisor to Chief Minister, Sh. Vinod Mehta, former MLA Sh. Sukhvinder Mandhi, BJP State General Secretary Advocate, Sh. Vedpal along with hundreds of farmers were present.