Date:18/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/18/stories/2008101859470900.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TRS seeks Rs. 1,000 MSP for paddy

HYDERABAD: Telangana Rashtra Samiti has demanded that the State government take initiative to see that the ryots got Rs. 1,000 per quintal as the minimum support price for paddy.

At a press conference here on Friday, TRS floor leader Eatala Rajender said the government should act before the farmers took to streets.

He also lamented that the cotton growers were disappointed at the strict guidelines framed by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).

The CCI, he said was refusing to procure cotton bales beyond Rs. 3,000 per quintal.

He wanted the CCI to purchase cotton bales at Rs. 3,600 per quintal.

‘Convene meeting’

The government should convene a high-level meeting of officials to discuss the problems faced by the farmers.

The Rs. 930 per quintal MSP announced by the Centre including the Rs. 50 bonus was not sufficient, he said and suggested market intervention by the government so that paddy was purchased by traders at Rs. 1,000 per quintal. The TRS leader said farmers were facing hardships due to delay in sanction of farm loans.

The loan waiver announced by the Centre has only compounded the woes of the farming community, who are not forced to approach the money lenders, he added.