Red gram farmers take to streets against market officials apathy

Nagarkurnool: Pouring out their anger against the attitude of market officials of Kollapur Agriculture Market, a large number of farmers staged a protest demanding the government to immediately direct the market officials concerned to procure their red gram produce as per the Minimum Support Price set by the government.

According to the protesting farmers, the market officials after letting the farmers wait for more than 12 hours for procuring their red gram at the Markfed procurement centre, failed to turn up to buy the produce. "It has been more than 12 hours we have been waiting with heaps of red gram in the market yard. Initially, the officials said they would issue tokens to the farmers and asked us to wait for one or two hours.

When we again approached them, they further asked us to wait up to afternoon. However, till evening not a single market official bothered to give any information. This clearly tells how serious these officials are in performing their duties. If not procuring the produce, they should at least inform us about the problems or issues. But they have acted in a negligent manner and treated the farmers badly," said Narasimhulu, a farmer from Pentalvelli mandal.

A large number of farmers gathered in front of Kollapur Agriculture Market Committee Office and staged a protest demanding justice from the government by blocking the road. Shocked at the sudden protest by the farmers, Market chairman Gundreddy Narender Reddy came out and tried to pacify the angry farmers and promised them that he would direct the officials to procure the red gram in an hour or two. However, even after two hours no official came forward to procure the red gram. Over this, the farmers got further infuriated and blocked the roads.

Meanwhile, the police immediately swung into action and tried to pacify the farmers. However, the farmers demanded that the agriculture market officials come out and give them explanation for the delay. Later, the police convinced the market officials to come out and explain the reasons for the delay in procurement. They informed the farmers that they would procure all the red gram brought by the farmers from Thursday onwards and asked them not to worry. The protesting farmers were convinced and later dispersed.