Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): After soybean crop, the rates of paddy crop have crashed in Madhya Pradesh. Traders said paddy prices tanked due to less demand in international market. If the paddy price of this year and last year are compared then on an average, there is difference of Rs 1,500 per quintal. As the prices of paddy have nosedived, the farmers are left in troubled waters.

If farmers go to sell paddy crop in open market, there too, they are not getting the desired price. They have asked government to give bonus on Minimum Support Price (MSP) to compensate for the losses. The maximum price of paddy in open market is Rs 3,000. Last year, the best quality paddy was sold at the maximum rate of Rs 4,400 per quintal and even higher.

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy is Rs 2,300 per quintal, which is too less compared to input cost. It should be increased to Rs 3,100. If MSP is not increased, then government should give bonus on paddy purchase, farmers said.

A leading trader of Itarsi told Free Press that price of paddy prices was controlled by the international market. If there is huge demand of paddy in international market, then prices of paddy go up. This time, owing to war between Russia and Ukraine and some other pressing factors, the demand of paddy is less in international market.

This is the reason that paddy prices fell sharply in the open market of Madhya Pradesh. “The paddy prices have come down due to less demand of paddy in international market,” said paddy trader Rajendra Tomar. On an average, the best quality paddy is sold at the rate of Rs 2,600 per quintal in open market.

The paddy grown in Madhya Pradesh is mainly supplied to Europe, America and Gulf countries. As Pakistan is also a big producer of rice, it’s paddy supply to foreign countries also affected the demand of Indian paddy. Bharatiya Kisan Sangh Prant Prachar Pramukh Rahul Dhoot told that the organization submitted memorandum in all the districts demanding rise in paddy MSP.