HYDERABAD:
Turmeric farmers are divided over the
Centre’s decision to set up a regional extension centre in
Nizamabad.
A majority of the farmers who entered the electoral fray in 2019 from Nizamabad said only a turmeric board will be the panacea for their problems. Some growers, who welcomed Union minister
Piyush Goyal’s announcement, however, wanted clarity on minimum support price (MSP) for their produce.
Farmer Tirumal Reddy, who contested as an independent in last year’s polls, said they want more clarity on MSP. “What we need is clarity on MSP for our crop. Currently, we are getting Rs4,000-Rs 5,000 per quintal. We are demanding Rs15,000 MSP per quintal.”
Growers, who are keen on a turmeric board, said having a separate board would ensure quality of the crop with better know-how and technical expertise.
“We are actually confused over the latest proposal. We do not know what is a regional extension centre and how is it different from the existing one,” wondered a farmer.
Anvesh Reddy, president of Kisan Congress cell, observed that the announcement was an attempt by the Centre to confuse farmers. “We accept nothing short of a turmeric board,” he said.
Meanwhile, a few farmers under the aegis of Jagtial United Farmers’ Front have welcomed the decision and released a statement saying that the new centre would help them a great deal.