The Hindu : Chilli farmers' stir attains political colour

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Chilli farmers' stir attains political colour

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 2. Farmers' agitation in the State seeking minimum support price to chillies and turmeric is attaining political overtones with Congress leaders joining the issue with the Government at the State-level accusing the latter of pursuing anti-farmer policies.

The leader of Opposition in the dissolved House, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, here on Tuesday demanded the Government's intervention through MARKFED to ensure minimum support price to the agitating chilli farmers.

The existing purchase centres were not sufficient and some more were needed, he added.

Reacting to the reports of farmers' unrest in Warangal, Guntur and Nizambad towns, he said farmers were left in the lurch alleging that officials of market yards and traders had colluded in bringing down the prices of chilli.

The initial price of tomato variety of chilli of Rs.7,000 per quintal had dropped to Rs.4,700 and then to Rs.3,000. The wonderhot variety price had come down from Rs.4,000 to as low as Rs.2,900.

Traders had also formed a syndicate in the State slashing the price of the produce by about Rs.1,000 per quintal. Likewise turmeric, which fetched Rs.3,500 per quintal earlier, was now being offered Rs.2,500 only. The nexus of officials and traders was not ruled out in this, he said.

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy said the agitation was a result of the Government's apathy and instead of coming to the rescue of farmers, it was using force to disperse the agitating farmers.

Extending full support to farmers, he demanded criminal action against the traders and withdrawal of false cases against farmers.

In another statement, the APCC general secretary, K. Yadav Reddy, expressed shock at the alleged apathy and said that the Government collusion with traders had led to the misery of farmers. The Grade One chilli price had come down from Rs.7,100 to Rs.5,300 and that of Grade Two from Rs.4,400 to Rs.2,200 per quintal. Likewise, Grade Three and Grade Four variety prices had dropped from Rs.3,600 to Rs.2,000 and from Rs.2,000 to Rs.200. Accusing the Government of adopting an anti-farmer stand, he said the price crash could have been avoided.

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