Kisan manch threatens to hold protest on September 26
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 30
The Samyukt Kisan Manch (SKM) will hold a demonstration on September 26 if the demands of farmers are not met. The demonstration will be preceded by rallies at the tehsil, block and subdivision levels on September 13, said Harish Chauhan, convener of the manch, here today.
Leaders of various parties other than the BJP came together under the banner of the SKM and held a meeting here today. They arrived at a consensus on 10 demands, including effective implementation of the Market Intervention Scheme to ensure remunerative prices to apple growers, recovery of farmers’ dues from commission agents and the withdrawal of the hike in the prices of material used for packaging flowers, fruits and vegetables.
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The manch demanded the grading of apples in A, B and C categories and the fixing of a minimum support price of Rs 66, Rs 44 and Rs 24 per kg, respectively, for these.
The manch leaders accused the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) of not performing their duties in a proper manner, causing losses to apple growers. They also criticised the Urban Development Minister for his comment that the market prices were determined by demand and supply.
The other demands included the purchase of agricultural produce in the market by weight, payment of dues to farmers for apples purchased by the HPMC and HIMFED, restoration of subsidy on fertilisers, seeds, insecticides, fungicide and other inputs and the grant of subsidy on agricultural implements, spare parts and tillers and the release of subsidy on anti-hail nets.
