The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Officials boycott work after attack by farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 11, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Officials boycott work after attack by farmers

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, JUNE 10. Agriculture Department officials of Rayachoti and Lakkireddipalle boycotted duties en masse on Thursday, decrying the attack on their colleagues by farmers yesterday. Farmers demanding distribution of adequate quantities of groundnut seed had hurled stones at the agricultural offices in Galiveedu, Chinnamandem and Lakkireddipalle and had assaulted the officials.

The demand for groundnut seed has grown in Rayachoti and Lakkireddipalle following good rainfall. The officials estimate that farmers might take up groundnut crop in about one lakh hectares in the district. Although the seed requirement is nearly 15,000 metric tonnes, the district received only 2,600 metric tonnes -- less than 20 per cent of the requirement - leaving the farmers in an agitative mood.

The District Agriculture Officers' Association president, B. Sadasiva Reddy, zonal vice-president, K. Sai Madanmohan and secretary, D.V. Subba Rao, had appealed to the farmers to exercise restraint on Wednesday, but to no avail. The Lakkireddipalle police registered a case against some farmers in connection with assault on the Galiveedu Mandal Agricultural Officer, Venkatasubbaiah and the MPDO, Prathap. The MPDO had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that farmers attacked him in his office and damaged furniture and a telephone.

The district CPI(M) secretary, B. Narayana, district CPI secretary, G. Obulesu, District Rythu Sangham general secretary, D. Chandramouleeswara Reddy and the Rayalaseema Karmika Karshaka Samithi president, Ch. Chandrasekhar Reddy, called on the Collector, Jayesh Ranjan, today and sought procurement of groundnut of 12,400 tonnes of groundnut seed by June 20. The farmers required about 150 kg of groundnut seed per hectare, but were being given only one packet irrespective of the acreage they cultivate, they said.

The Collector said that required quantity of groundnut seed was not available at present, but he assured to convince the Government to procure seeds from Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The leaders said that farmers were purchasing seeds from private millers and dealers at Rs. 16 and Rs. 17.50 per kg. and urged the administration to supply seeds at 50 per cent subsidy. He also promised procurement of red gram, castor, alasanda and minumulu seeds to tide over the shortfall of groundnut seed.

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