Congress demands relief for turmeric farmers

Naveen S Garewal 
Tribune News Service 
Hyderabad, January 24  

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Telangana Congress legislative party leaders Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu has demanded a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for turmeric and also the setting up of a Turmeric Board at the earliest.

In a statement, he said: “BJP at the Centre and the Telugu Rashtra Samithi (TRS) governments in the state were playing tricks and indulging in a blame game for delaying in fixing MSP for turmeric”.

He demanded that the two governments immediately focus on the plight of the farmers and support the farmers by providing support price. Thousands of acres of turmeric were being cultivated in the state every year and the farmers are not getting appropriate support price, he said.

This year also the farmers cultivated turmeric in 40,624 acres in Nizamabad, 26,165 acres in Nirmal, 34,078 acres in Jagityal, 16,739 min Warnangal rural, 1766 acres in Bhupalpally, 10,234 acres in Mahabubabad, 4200 acres in Vikarabad, 1491 acres in Peddapalli, 1388 acres in Sangareddy, 1091 acres in Warangal Urban, 363 acres in Adilabad, 191 acres in Kamareddy, 140 acres in Manchiryala, Bhadra, 77 acres in Khammam, 50 acres in Janagam, 25 acres in Rangareddy, 8 acres in Suryapeta, 2 acres in Medak and 2 acres in Siddipet for a total crop of 1,39,698 acres.

The farmers were facing trouble and are unable to sell their harvest for a reasonable rate as there is no MSP. They are worried that the price of quintals, which was Rs 15,000, 8 years ago is now not even selling for Rs 4,000 or Rs 5,000 and that due to this situation they are facing huge losses, he said.

Bhatti Vikramarka said the two governments are not looking after the farmers despite tall claims. He demanded that the state government should buy the crop till the issue is resolved by it in consultation with the centre. This was urgently required to give relief to the farmers.