Sangrur, Sept. 16 -- Basmati growers in flood-ravaged Punjab are complaining of low rates for their produce this year, claiming that in the absence of a minimum support price (MSP) for the crop, private buyers are dictating the terms.

BKU Ekta Ugrahan president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the ideal price for basmati should be between Rs.4,500 and Rs.5,000 per quintal. "The current market rate is around Rs.2,500 to Rs.3,000 per quintal. In the past, the crop used to be sold for Rs.3,500 to Rs.4,000 per quintal," he said while demanding MSP for the crop.

He further dismissed claims about the recent rains affecting the crop's quality, stating the produce coming to the market is from areas unaffected by flooding.

Meanwhile, Sheeshan Kumar,...