Andhra Pradesh - Others   

It's traders' day out at Miryalaguda

Staff Reporter

MIRYALAGUDA: Hundreds of ryots have been stranded in Miryalaguda agricultural market yard along with their paddy stocks for five days as traders are unwilling to pay the minimum support price.

"I came here six days ago leaving behind my children at home. I don't know when they will clear my stocks," Saidamma of Mathampally told The Hindu on Thursday. "We already had bitter experiences while purchasing pesticides and seeds. Now we are made to suffer here like this," 83-year-old Ramulu rued.

As farmers brought a record number of 92,000 bags of paddy to the market yard only on Wednesday, traders had a field day. Many of them didn't bother to pay the MSP that is Rs.610 per quintal as fixed by the Government.

"The traders are offering only Rs.520 showing the moisture content as the reason. If that is the case, we are in for a heavy loss," Balaji of Dubba thanda said adding that Rs.650 should be the reasonable price. "Rate should be fixed at the paddy stocks, not at in the millers' association buildings," he contended.

Enraged by the `injustice' meted out to them, hundreds of ryots took to streets on Wednesday resulting in some unsavory incidents in the Miryalaguda town. They burnt down the flexi boards of the market committee chairman. As the situation was getting out of control, the police had to resort to lathicharge for which the farmers took serious objection.

Local MLA Julakanti Ranga Reddy and other officials held discussions with the traders and announced revised rates on Thursday. According to the revised rates, the best quality would be paid Rs.605 per quintal. Unable to put up with the inconvenience at the market yard that plagued with abysmal facilities, many farmers started selling off their stocks till the last reports came in.

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