Date:05/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/05/stories/2009070553900400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool

Bengal gram ryots seek fair deal

Special Correspondent

Farmers stock huge stock of Bengal gram in cold storage plants
They are unable to sell their produce due to depressed prices

KURNOOL: Bengal gram growers from five districts made appealed to the Central and State governments to initiate a market invention exercise to shore up prices of the pulse crop.

The farmers gathered at Koilkuntla in Kurnool district on Saturday to highlight the plight of Bengal gram growers. Minister for Housing Shilpa Mohan Reddy, MP S.P.Y. Reddy, who attended the meeting, tried to mollify the feelings of farmers by promising to take up the issue with the government.

Minimum support price

The farmers demanded a price of Rs. 3,000 per quintal, which according to them would be possible only when the government announced a minimum support price of Rs. 2,500 per quintal. Andhra Pradesh stood first in the country in Bengal gram production. The farmers were in an agitating mood as they stocked a huge stock of Bengal gram in the cold storage plants but could not sell due to depressed prices. According to an estimate, in Kurnool district alone around three lakh tonnes worth Rs. 750 crore got stagnated. The farmer leaders attributed the slump to lack of parity in the MSP of Bengal gram with other pulse crops. Vice-president of Nandi Raithu Samakya Pocha Brahmananda Reddy who organised the meeting said farmers would not be able to repay the bank loans they borrowed against the stocks if the government remained indifferent. The farmers’ leaders urged the government to stop import of pulses (Bengal gram) immediately apart from market invention involving Markfed to bail out farmers from the crisis.

M.V. Rao, former vice-chancellor of Agriculture University and MLC wondered how Bengal gram growers were deprived of a remunerative price when the country was importing 40 per cent of its pulse requirement.