Date:22/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/22/stories/2007092254300500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Paddy farmers seek hike in support price

GUDIVADA: Raitanga Samakhya-Andhra Pradesh on Friday demanded that the Government increase the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by Rs. 150 a quintal, as the present rate of Rs. 660 a quintal was not viable to farmers.

To highlight the issue, the Samakhya conducted a meeting at the auditorium of Akkineni Nageswara Rao College here. Addressing the meeting, Eluru MP Kavuru Sambasiva Rao said that the Government was sympathetic towards the farmers’ problems and the issue of increasing the MSP was under the consideration of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.