Karnataka - Bangalore

Growers dump potatoes on NH 4

— Photo: K Gopinathan

FOR BETTER PRICE: Potato farmers staging a protest at APMC Yard in Bangalore on Monday.

BANGALORE: Potato farmers from Hassan and Chikmagalur districts, who have been affected by the price crash, dumped potatoes on the National Highway (NH) 4 at Yeshwanthpur here on Monday seeking support price for the produce. Following the protest, movement of vehicles on the highway was disrupted for half an hour.

The farmers, who staged a protest at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Corporation (APMC) yard in Yeshwantpur, later marched onto the highway and dumped potato there.

Addressing the gathering, working president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene Kodihalli Chandrashekar said that 90 per cent of the potato crop in Hassan and Chikmagalur districts had been lost to “angamari” disease.

He said: “Those who brought their produce here for sale were disappointed with the fall in prices. The price that hovered between Rs. 600 and Rs. 800 a quintal a few days ago has come down to between Rs. 100 and Rs. 150 a quintal.”

Mr. Chandrashekar said that this time potato growers had faced problem in getting potato seeds and fertilizers. Many of them pledged their valuables to obtain fertilizers at a higher price. But majority of growers have lost their crop.

“We urge the Government to intervene and announce support price, and pay compensation to those who have lost their crop completely,” he said.

Later, Mr. Chandrashekar said that potato growers and potato merchants met the secretary of the APMC and discussed the issue. “The farmers appealed to the APMC Merchants Association not to purchase potatoes from Uttar Pradesh from September 1 in a view to help the local potato growers. The merchants have promised to buy potatoes locally,” Mr. Chandrashekar added.

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