NIZAMABAD: The Union government’s decision to increase Minimum Support Price (MSP) has brought relief, and even joy, to many farmers cultivating 14 crops including rice and maize. However, nothing has changed for farmers cultivating turmeric, a crop which does not have MSP, since it is not an agricultural crop.
Turmeric is a major crop in Nizamabad, Adilabad and Karimnagar and farmers have always demanded that it be included in the MSP list. In fact, it is so important for Nizamabad’s economy that many farmers keep idols of goddesses made of turmeric in their homes, in hopes of blessed fortunes. The district’s Agriculture Market (NAMC) is known all over India for its turmeric and it gets orders from all over India through Enam, the nationwide portal for trade in agricultural goods.
Farmers complain they face a myriad of issues in getting the right price for their produce and that they suffer huge losses every year. But it was not always like this — earlier they would get `12,000 per quintal, but now they are able to muster just a meagre `7,000 for same quantity. Some farmers told Express that they were barely able to recover their invested amounts after selling it at market yards.
They said that some kind of price guarantee was required for turmeric cultivation to be worth the effort.
Political promises
The demand for inclusion of the crop in MSP list is not a new one as many political parties in the past have made many promises during their respective election campaigns.
Recently, BJP state president K Laxman, during his visit to Armoor as part of his statewide yatra, met turmeric farmers and discussed about their issues and demands. Even the Congress is not far behind. Party’s district president Taher Bin Hamdan, had said if they won the next assembly elections, they would introduce a slew of measures to help farmers.
BJP leaders celebrate MSP hike
Nizamabad: BJP leaders and activists, on Thursday.celebrated Centre’s decision to increase MSP of 14 crops. They conducted milk abhishekams in the town. BJP member D Aravind said that the party workers would explain the Centre’s decisions to the farmers.