Date:13/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/13/stories/2007031307940400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Turmeric ryots seek Rs. 4,000 MSP

Special Correspondent

Participate in `chalo Assembly' rally organised by SJM

Acreage of turmeric down from 65,000 to 25,000 acres: SJM

Leaders from various political parties back turmeric farmers

ALL FOR MSP: Turmeric farmers staging a dharna under the aegis of Swadeshi Jagran Manch in Hyderabad on Monday. - Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Turmeric farmers from different parts of the State converged here on Monday in a `Chalo Assembly' rally culminating in a dharna, seeking minimum support price (MSP) of Rs. 4,000 per quintal.

Organised by Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), it had the support of leaders from all political parties.

L. Veeragopal, SJM State co-convener, regretted that the acreage of turmeric had come down from 65,000 acres to 25,000 acres in the past few years in the absence of Government support.

State convener M. Rajamahender Reddy, co-convener K. Narasimhan Naidu and organising secretary Appala Prasad said thousands of turmeric farmers had lost lakhs of rupees because they did not get remunerative prices. They criticised the Government for failing to respond to the problem.