The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : State accused of letting down ryots

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Thursday, Mar 03, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

State accused of letting down ryots

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, MARCH 2. The Telugu Desam Party member, E. Dayakar Rao, has accused the Government of completely failing to announce remunerative prices for farm produce.

Participating in a short discussion on minimum support price for agriculture produce in the Assembly on Wednesday, Mr. Dayakar Rao lashed out at the Government for its "insensitivity" to the sufferings of farmers. He said cotton and chilli growers were already in an agitated mood demanding MSP for the produce.

He felt that cotton procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) was far from satisfactory and that middlemen were forcing the farmers to dispose of the produce at cheaper prices. He wanted the Government to follow the steps taken by the Maharashtra Government to help cotton- growers.

He questioned whether the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, would fulfil his promise of earmarking Rs. 500 crores for market intervention during crisis. Mr. Rao said the Markfed and NABARD should intervene to stabilise the market and provide remunerative prices for agriculture produce arriving in marketyards.

J. Venkata Rao (Congress) lauded the measures taken by the Government to mitigate the distress of farmers. He said the Chief Minister had promised to consider the suggestion for including chilli and tamarind in the public distribution system.

K.Venkatanarasiah (CPI(M)) said the price fluctuation of produce was one of the main reasons for farm crisis and wanted the Government to take up with the Centre assured MSP to farmers. He suggested that a farmers' representative should be on the Agricultural Prices Commission (APC).

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