State failed to rescue farmers

Khammam: It’s a repeat of last year at Khammam Agriculture Market Yard, senior Telugu Desam leader and Sathupalli MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah said, referring to chilli farmers’ protest on Thursday demanding remunerative price to their produce.

Speaking to media persons, he said though the farmers were facing hardships, the authorities appear to be nonchalant. “The market is ruled by traders and middlemen in connivance with the authorities,” Sandra alleged. “The government which is trumpeting that it would form Farmer Coordination  ommittees to address the problems of cultivators needs to understand the dynamics of the market,” he said. The government is yet to clarify how it would stabilise the market prices so that farmers could be benefited, he said.

The government should allocate funds for the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to help the farmers in case of glut in production or fall in prices, Sandra said, referring to the Andhra Pradesh government’s initiative to allocate Rs 500 crore for MIS. “Although the subabul and eucalyptus growers are struggling to get remunerative price, the government failed to pressurise the Bhadrachalam Paperboards Limited, ITC, which let down the farmers,” Sandra said.

TDP district president Tulluri Brahmaiah and Palair constituency in-charge MB Swarna Kumari were among others leaders present.