Date:03/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/03/stories/2008040359150300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Groundnut farmers stage ‘rasta roko’

Correspondent

Seek minimum support price for their produce; allege collusion among traders

MAHABUBNAGAR: Demanding minimum support price for their produce (groundnut) farmers staged a ‘rasta roko’ at the market yard in Wanaparthy in the district on Wednesday.

Over 200 farmers who brought their groundnut crop supported by various political parties including the Telugu Desam, BJP, CPI and the CPI (M) staged a protest in front of market yard on Kurnool road in the town.

According to information reaching to the district headquarters, several farmers from surrounding villagers of Wanaparthy town brought around 20,000 bags of groundnut to the market yard.

They were shocked to know that the price being offered for groundnut was around Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 1,700 per quintal. The farmers said that only two days ago groundnut was sold at Rs. 3, 400 per quintal in the same market yard and today it was being offered around Rs. 1,700.

They alleged that the traders had colluded and were trying to cheat the farmers.