HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh State Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited (Markfed) is opening more purchase centres for the benefit of turmeric farmers who are in distress on account of lack of remunerative price.

Markfed Chairman Ponnam Prabhakar said at a press conference here on Wednesday that the purchase centres will be opened at Warangal, Duggirala, Kadapa, Korulta, Metpally and Vikarabad. Such centres were recently launched at Nizamabad and Jagtiyal and farmers were already bringing in stocks.

He said that price ranging from Rs.1,800 - Rs.2,000 (as against last year's rate of Rs.2,300 - Rs.2,400) a quintal is being paid to farmers.

The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, which had been agitating for remunerative prices, is also happy with the price being paid, he said.

Mr. Prabhakar ridiculed the dharna of the TDP legislators' at the federation office on Tuesday, charging the previous Government for not taking the issue seriously. He alleged that the TDP regime had neglected the issue of MSP of several commodities and even tried to liquidate the organisation. He questioned the participation of some MLAs in the protest even though they do not represent turmeric-producing areas.

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