Hike MSP of paddy to Rs 1,500

BHUBANESWAR: The State unit of the Samajwadi Party has demanded that the minimum support price of paddy should be enhanced to Rs 1,500 a quintal and the price of a litre of milk to Rs 25 as the livelihood of more than 60 per cent of farmers depends on these two items. State unit president Rabi Behera who held a discussion with Revenue Minister Surjya Narayan Patro demanded that a minimum monthly allowance of ` 3,000 should be provided for all the small and marginal farmers and the share-croppers. Demanding that massive NREGS works should be taken up to create water sources like ponds, bore-wells, lift irrigation points, Behera said interest-free loan should be provided to the drought-hit farmers.