Adding to the on-going misery of the farmers in Odisha, Union government rejected Odisha government’s demand for hike of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy. Union Agriculture Ministry rejected Odisha’s demand saying MSP hike is not feasible. Besides, it said that the farmers should sell paddy in open market. The State Assembly had on March 25 unanimously adopted a resolution recommending the state government to demand the Centre for increasing the MSP of paddy to Rs 2,930 per quintal instead of Rs 1,550.