WTO spells doom for farmers: CPI

By Our Staff Reporter

RAJAHMUNDRY, DEC. 20. The State unit secretary of the CPI, Mr.Suravaram Sudhakara Reddy, has said that the defective policies of both the Centre and the State are responsible for the pitiable plight of farmers. After March next, when the country would be obliged to import 60 lakh MT of foodgrains under the WTO agreement, the situation would further worsen. A situation might emerge when, like in the case of the tobacco crop, holidays would have to be declared for other crops, he added.

Speaking to newsmen here on Wednesday, Mr. Sudhakara Reddy pointed out that the ills in the farm sector had not been the result of surplus production. It was because of lack of purchasing power in the hands of people. He wanted the Government to take steps to control import of foodgrains to stem the rot. In our country agriculture was a matter of livelihood. In foreign countries, it was done on commercial lines. In this background, it was not proper to expect our farmers to compete with farmers in foreign countries, where the agriculture sector was heavily subsidised, he said.

He charged the State and the Centre with passing the buck to each other on the issue of ensuring remunerative prices for farmers.The State blamed the FCI and the Centre found fault with the State for not purchasing its share of paddy, he said, adding that both were taking farmers for a ride. He urged farmers to demand from the participants of coming Janmabhoomi which would be called ``Farmers Janmabhoomi,'' what was done to ensure remunerative prices for them. Other problems being faced by farmers would also be raised at Janmabhoomi by his partymen. They would never disrupt the Janmabhoomi programme, he said. On the problems of farmers, his party was prepared to work with the Congress.

On the possibility of enhancing power tariff once again, Mr. Sudhakara Reddy asserted that his party would oppose such a step tooth and nail. Past experience had proved that hiking power tariff would not solve the problem of TRANSCO losses. The problems of transmission losses and theft would have to be tackled first.

Mr. Sudhakara Reddy, who was here to address the general body meeting of the district unit here, said that the party would be celebrating its 75th year throughout the country from December 25 to 31. All 5,500 units in the State would organise programmes to mark the occasion, he said. The district unit secretary of the party, Mr. Misala Satyanarayana, was present.

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Section  : Southern States
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