KHAMMAM: While the commission agents are running the show at the Khammam market yard, officials have become mute spectators. And amidst all the chaos, the chilly farmers have been left to fend for themselves. Taking advantage of the helplessness of farmers, the agents in chilly market yard are hiking and reducing the prices of chilly at their own will.
Over 20,000 farmers in Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem districts have cultivated chilly in around 70,000 acres of land this year. The farmers were expecting good price for their produce but the commission agents colluded and reduced the chilly price.
Sudden crash
Till February 15, chilly fetched anywhere between Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per quintal, which was quoted as a reasonable price by the farmers. However, the commission agents suddenly brought down the prices from Rs 12,000 to Rs 7,000 per quintal.This sudden crash has left several farmers, who had planned to repay their loans, in a state of shock. Left with no other option, they had launched an agitation.Thursday’s protests at the chilly market yard is just another instance of how commission agents control the pricing mechanism at the market yards.
Illegal sale of red grams: TJAC leaders intervene
Nalgonda: TJAC leaders identified 508 red gram bags which were on sale in Nalgonda market yard without papers on Friday. TJAC co-convener P Saidulu and other leaders visited the market yard on Friday. The farmers there alleged that some mediators were purchasing red gram at low rates of Rs 3,200 to Rs 3,300 per quintal and selling the same in the market yard by using farmers’ aadhaar card photo copies. In Nizamabad, Left parties farmers wing organisations demanded that Centre waive all agriculture loans taken by farmers.
Farmers demand MSP for turmeric, jowar
Jagtial: Demanding Minimum Support Price (MSP) for turmeric and jowar crops, farmers staged a protest here on Friday. Scores of farmers took out a rally from Laxmipur to Jagtial and staged a rastaroko on Karimnagar Jagtial highway. Nearly 1,500 farmers took part in the protest. They came to district headquarters in bullock carts and tractors. Earlier, they staged a protest at the mini stadium. They demanded anMSP of Rs 15,000 per quintal of turmeric, Rs 2,500 for paddy and Rs 2,000 for jowar. Later, they went to the collector’s office and demanded the collector to address their problems. They also conducted a padayatra.