Emu farmers demand waiver of loans

Eluru: Fifteen breeders of Emu birds climbed atop an overhead tank at Ramachandraraopet area here on Friday, demanding waiver of loans sanctioned to them. This created a sensation in the city, as the breeders did not get down until around 8.30 pm. Finally, they got down from the tank after Araku MP Kothapalli Geetha assured them that she would speak to the Centre and get their problem solved. Earlier, tahsildar and other officials discussed with the agitators and tried to pacify them.

About 150 Emu farmers came to Eluru city led by the Godavari districts Emu Bird Growers Association president Bangaru Bullayya, B Kanakayya, Phani and G Vani Chowdary, organisers of Emu birds’ forum in the morning and went to the municipal overhead tank behind Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Ramachandra Rao Peta. Fifteen of them climbed the tank. On securing information, two-town Circle Inspector K Bangarraju and his staff reached the spot and tried to convince the farmers who were on the tank.

The farmers warned them that they would commit suicide by jumping from it. Meanwhile, the fire tenders and 108 ambulances have reached the spot. The fire personnel arranged nets under the tank as a precautionary measure. Police officials requested the farmers on the top to come down and discuss their problem with the officials. However, the agitators did not listen to their words and demanded immediate action on their problems. They demanded waiver of their loans, as the government encouraged them for the breeding.

Vani Chowdary, the organiser of Emu Bird Forum, said that during 2005-06, the Centre has encouraged the Emu bird breeding in the country in a big way. Following the Centre’s decision, NABARD has also encouraged farmers to take up the breeding of Emu birds in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In 2006, it has sanctioned Rs 30 lakh to each farmer to breed the bird and assured of income through export of the skin, meat and oil. It has stated that there was high demand in other countries for these birds.

About 150 farmers from the three States took loans from NABARD. As there was no one to purchase the birds, the farmers incurred huge losses during all these years. In the meantime, the NABARD has issued notices to the farmers to pay the loan amounts or otherwise it will auction their properties including agricultural lands. She alleged that the NABARD has cheated the farmers by saying Emu bird breeding will fetch higher income. The bank has sanctioned Rs 30 lakh to each of the farmers.

Out of it, 27 lakh is bank loan and Rs 3 lakh should be borne by the farmer. The bank has to give Rs 7.50 lakh as the subsidy. The birds grew up big and the chicks also grew up. But no marketing facility was provided to the farmers. Meanwhile, the NABARD has issued notices to the farmers to pay the loan amounts immediately. Otherwise, they warned that they would conduct auction of their properties including the agriculture fields.