Patna: Flaying the incremental hike in diesel prices by the Centre, Deputy Chief Minister Sushilkumar Modi on Saturday demanded a separate subsidy for Bihar farmers in view of their overwhelming dependence on the fuel for farming.
"The incremental diesel price hike will break the back of the farmers in Bihar and make it difficult for them to sustain their core economic activity in view of their overwhelming dependence on petro-products for farming," he told reporters in reply to a question.
"The Centre must understand the fact that 90 per cent of the Bihar farmers depend on diesel for farming contrary to some other states where the farmers use electricity for bulk of their farm-related works," Modi said.
"I am afraid that regular increase in diesel prices will break the back of the farmers here and impede agriculture growth in the state," he said, reacting to the 45 paise diesel price hike announced by the Centre, which came into effect from midnight last night.
The Centre should consider provision for a separate diesel subsidy for the farmers of Bihar, the Deputy Chief Minister added.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, February 16, 2013, 19:39