The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Ensure MSP to farmers: TDP

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Friday, Feb 11, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ensure MSP to farmers: TDP

By Our Staff Reporter

WARANGAL, FEB. 10. Telugu Desam Party leaders have accused the State Government of deliberately neglecting farmers by depriving them of the minimum support price (MSP). Farmers in Warangal district alone have lost Rs.100 crores this year.

The TDP deputy leader in the Assembly, T. Devender Goud, the former Minister, K. Srihari, the MLAs -- Errabelli Dayakar Rao and V. Narender Reddy -- and others visited the Enumamula agricultural market here today and interacted with the farmers there. They asked them if they were getting the MSP. The TDP leaders went round the market yard and inspected cotton and chilly yards. They later held discussions with the Joint Collector, Syed Omer Jaleel.

Farmers' plaint

The farmers told the TDP leaders that the cotton crop commanded a price of Rs.2,400 to Rs.2,500 and even more last year but this year, they were being paid less than Rs.2,000. Though the Government had announced Rs. 2,010 MSP, no farmer was paid the same. The Cotton Corporation of India officials and traders were collusion and were exploiting the farmers, they alleged.

Farmers, who brought chilli to the market, told them that the traders paid Rs.2,500 yesterday but today they offered only Rs.2,000 per quintal.

Mr. Srihari and Mr. Devender Goud sought an explanation from the Market Committee officials. However, they denied drastic fall in the price and said they would inquire into the complaints.

Later, speaking to newsmen, Mr. Dayakar Rao said not a single official or public representative had visited the market during the last eight months. During the TDP regime, public representatives monitored the prices everyday and took stock of the situation. "We were concerned about the interest of farmers and hence we pressured officials to keep a close watch on the affairs of the market. But, ever since the Congress assumed power, there was no check on the traders and officials," he pointed out.

MSP sought

The TDP leaders asked the Government to order the CCI and Markfed to intervene and ensure minimum price to farmers, else the party would raise the issue during the Assembly session. The party would also launch an agitation outside the House, they said.

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