Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday questioned the State government’s claims on agricultural growth and farmers’ welfare, alleging that massive expenditure has failed to translate into meaningful relief on the ground.
In a press release, the party stated that Rs 78,000 crore has been spent on the agriculture sector over the last five years, yet farmers continue to face distress.
A post on X alleges that, despite official claims of 14% growth in agriculture, farmers are still unable to recover even their basic cultivation costs.
Citing official data, the BJD claimed that farmers’ incomes have risen by only 10–15%, which it said is inadequate in the face of rising prices of fertilisers, seeds, diesel, and electricity. The party further alleged weaknesses in procurement systems and claimed that many farmers are being forced to sell their produce below the Minimum Support Price.
The BJD also highlighted rising prices of essential commodities and declining purchasing power, alleging that government claims on employment generation and economic stability do not reflect ground realities.
The party demanded that the government focus on the effective implementation of welfare schemes, price control measures, and genuine farmer support, rather than what it described as publicity-driven narratives.
Rising costs of fertilisers, seeds, diesel, and electricity have sharply increased the cost of cultivation. Farmers are being pushed into financial insecurity and debt, while official advertisements continue to project “false success stories,” according to the BJD.
