Date:11/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/05/11/stories/2005051103011700.htm

Back AP tobacco farmers block traffic

Our Bureau

ONGOLE: Tobacco farmers blocked road and rail traffic at several places in Prakasam district on Tuesday in protest against the low prices prevailing on the auction floors.

Farmers blocked road traffic at Podili, Singarayakonda, Trovagunta, Vellampalli and Ongole for a few hours on the national highway. At Singarayakonda railway station, Krishna Express and other trains were held up for an hour or so. A hundred agitating farmers were arrested and later released.

The representatives of the farmers said there had been a steep slump in prices and at present the crop was selling at an average price of Rs 38 per kg against Rs 40 a kg last year during the corresponding period. Till now, they said, roughly a little over 50 million kgs of the crop had been sold out of the total production of 140-150 million kgs in the State.

The leaders of the farmers' association said they would meet here again on Thursday to decide on the future course of action. They threatened to intensify the agitation, if the Government did not heed to their plea for market intervention to push up the price line.