Farmers Movement Archive

Ryots of fine variety paddy in trouble

K Venkatesham Goud is a farmer of this village on the outskirts the district headquarter town. He has about four acres of land. Abiding to the suggestion given by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and agriculture officers, he cultivated fine variety (Sanna Rakalu) paddy on three acres of land. The officials have also informed him that there would be good demand for the fine variety and that he can expect good returns. After harvesting the crop this month, Venkatesham Goud is facing a completely different situation. There are no buyers for his crop. He does not know what to do and where to go. This is not the case of only Mr. Venkatesham Goud but several other farmers as well - numbering in thousands. “I was forced to pay Rs. 600 for each of the labour whereas their charges were less in the previous season. For tilling alone, I paid Rs. 45,000,” Mr. Venkatesham Goud told The Hindu . In Sangareddy district alone, about 30,000 acres of fine variety was cultivated followed by about one lakh acres in Medak district. Farmers have to struggle a lot for cultivating fine variety, compared with the normal variety. “Sanna Rakalu needs more attention as it is susceptible to pests and diseases. In addition, the yield is less. It will also take another 20 days time for harvesting. Farmers need to invest more and hence they demand more,” said an agriculture officer on condition of anonymity adding that the government has not yet taken any decision on purchasing of fine variety. “Farmers are in serious trouble. They have incurred heavy loss as the crop was hit by pests and yield was less. Farmers are demanding a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs. 2,500 per quintal. How can the government escape from its responsibility, which urged farmers to sow fine variety of paddy?” questions G. Jayaraj, district secretary, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).

The Hindu

2020-11-17

FASALWADI (SANGAREDDY DISTRICT),TELANGANA