Date:30/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/30/stories/2008013058620300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Turmeric farmers set out on 200 km padayatra

Staff Reporter

Swadeshi Jagran Manch to drum up support of political parties on seeking remunerative price

Padayatra to cover 53 villages in 7 mandals of Nizamabad where turmeric is produced
Farmers spending Rs. 15,000 per acre as against income of Rs. 9,000: TDP leader

MUNIPALLY (NIZAMABAD Dt.): To prepare turmeric farmers for an agitation to press for their charter of 19 demands including payment of Rs. 4,000 per quintal of turmeric, farmers set out on a 200 km padayatra from this village on Tuesday.

The padayatra will cover 53 villages in seven mandals where the crop is predominantly produced, before culminating in a public meeting at Donkeswar in Nandipet mandal on Feburary 4. The demands included establishment of a separate board for turmeric and turmeric processing centre, purchase of produce through AP Markfed, supply of seed on subsidy basis, encouragement for drip irrigation and supply of equipment on 90 per cent subsidy, training to turmeric farmers, sanction of loans to farmers for 25 paise interest, scrapping of loans taken by turmeric farmers earlier, inclusion of the crop in crop insurance and so on.

Chalo Collectorate

The padayatra launched under the banner of Swadeshi Jagran Manch will drum up the support of all political parties and farmers to exert pressure on the government for immediate announcement of remunerative price to the crop. It will also appeal to the farmers to make the Chalo Collectorate programme a big success on February 5.

Addressing a public meeting before launching the padayatra, former Agriculture Minister and Telugu Desam Party senior leader Vadde Sobhanadreeswar Rao said the purchase of just 100 tonnes of turmeric under MIF by the government last year showed the government was not spending the income it received through turmeric on its producers.

He said the farmers were incurring an expenditure of Rs. 15,000 per acre as against the income of Rs. 9,000. As many as 82 farmers against 100 were steeped in indebtedness as per a survey by National Sample Survey Organisation, he pointed out.

Former Minister and Armoor MLA S. Santhose Reddy said he would stand by the farmers in their struggle for remunerative price.

Bias alleged

Telangana Rashtra Samiti general secretary and MLA T. Harish Rao, alleged that the government was showing discrimination against Telangana farmers. Therefore, it was not sincerely trying for profitable price for crops predominantly sowed in the region, he said.

The party district convenor and MLA E. Ravinder Reddy said that all MLAs from his party will attend the Chalo Collectorate on February 5. Swadeshi Jagran Manch leaders Narsimham Naidu and Appala Prasad also spoke.